I want to know about the advantages of TCEP (tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine) over other reducing agents such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and β-mercaptoethanol.
One uses TCEP when carrying out maleimide-based conjugation at protein SH groups. TCEP keeps the protein reduced while not interfering with the reaction.
It is stated here that "TCEP HCl has the advantages of being odorless, more powerful, irreversible, more hydrophilic, and more resistant to oxidation in air. Near complete reduction of disulfide bonds."
TCEP reduces without using a thiol group. Therefore using it for, for instance, dye labeling of the Cysteine thiolate makes sure the reducer (TCEP) will not be dye labeled. In fact, adding excess of bME or DTT in the end of such a labeling reaction, terminates it by labeling the bME or DTT via its thiol with the leftover free dye.