Science2Go | Cell-Free Systems: Exploring the Potential For the Synthesis of Difficult-to-Express Proteins | Dr. Anne Zemella

Science2Go | Cell-Free Systems: Exploring the Potential For the Synthesis of Difficult-to-Express Proteins | Dr. Anne Zemella

In recent years, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has gained increasing attention in research areas with its high potential for industrial protein production. The principle of CFPS is based on the generation of crude extracts after cell cultering, fermentation, cell disruption and depletion of endogenous DNA and mRNA. The so called lysate is supplemented with energy components, salts and amino acids. The translation process starts by adding an appropriate template containing the genetic information of the target protein. CFPS systems are of growing interest particularly for the production of difficult-to-express proteins, such as toxic, viral and membrane proteins, as internal cell metabolism does not have to be preserved and no cellular barriers restrict the translation control. In addition, the open nature of CFPS systems enables the supplementation of co-factors, chaperones and radiotope labels, thereby improving the translational requirements of a particular target protein. Nowadays many sophisticated cell-free systems for manifold applications have been established. Moreover, novel automated high-throughput systems are developed because of the simple handling of liquids and the easy scalability of cell-free reactions. In this lecture the diversity of CFPS systems with a focus on their future, their potential, and their applications in bioproduction is presented.