Hydrogen ion buffers for biological research

Five new zwitterionic hydrogen ion buffers are described for the first time. These buffers, all N-substituted 3-amino-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acids, with p K a 's between 6.9 and 7.9 have been subjected to a number of stringent tests in mammalian tissue culture, plant pathology, and virology to detect inhibitory effects. They appear to be equivalent to or better than any other buffers heretofore available.