Tricine buffer is widely used in biochemical and molecular biology research due to its effective buffering capacity in the pH range of 7.4 to 8.8. It is particularly useful in electrophoresis, especially for separating small proteins and peptides in polyacrylamide gels, as it provides better resolution compared to other buffers. Additionally, tricine buffer is employed in enzyme assays and protein purification processes where maintaining a stable pH is critical. Its low ionic strength and minimal interference with biochemical reactions make it a preferred choice in various laboratory applications.