Used primarily in protein electrophoresis, it facilitates the separation of proteins based on their molecular weight. The buffer provides the necessary ionic environment for proteins to migrate through the polyacrylamide gel under an electric field. SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) in the buffer denatures proteins, giving them a uniform charge-to-mass ratio, ensuring separation is based solely on size. This buffer is essential in techniques like SDS-PAGE, widely employed in molecular biology and biochemistry for protein analysis, purity checks, and molecular weight determination. It is a key component in Western blotting workflows, where proteins are first separated by SDS-PAGE before being transferred to membranes for detection.