Sodium acetate is used as a buffer in the buffering range of pH 3.6-5.6. It is also used in the purification and precipitation of nucleic acids, protein crystallization, Staining of gels in protein gel electrophoresis, HPLC, mordant dyeing, DNA microarray studies of E. coli response, investigation of protein unfolding during reverse phase chromatography. It is used in conjunction with sodium carbonate to enhance the activation of freeze-dried subtilisin Carlsberg in organic solvents. It is also used as substrate for acetokinase.