1
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Greiss F, Lardon N, Schütz L, Barak Y, Daube SS, Weinhold E, Noireaux V, Bar-Ziv R. A genetic circuit on a single DNA molecule as an autonomous dissipative nanodevice. Nat Commun 2024; 15:883. [PMID: 38287055 PMCID: PMC10825189 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45186-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Realizing genetic circuits on single DNA molecules as self-encoded dissipative nanodevices is a major step toward miniaturization of autonomous biological systems. A circuit operating on a single DNA implies that genetically encoded proteins localize during coupled transcription-translation to DNA, but a single-molecule measurement demonstrating this has remained a challenge. Here, we use a genetically encoded fluorescent reporter system with improved temporal resolution and observe the synthesis of individual proteins tethered to a DNA molecule by transient complexes of RNA polymerase, messenger RNA, and ribosome. Against expectations in dilute cell-free conditions where equilibrium considerations favor dispersion, these nascent proteins linger long enough to regulate cascaded reactions on the same DNA. We rationally design a pulsatile genetic circuit by encoding an activator and repressor in feedback on the same DNA molecule. Driven by the local synthesis of only several proteins per hour and gene, the circuit dynamics exhibit enhanced variability between individual DNA molecules, and fluctuations with a broad power spectrum. Our results demonstrate that co-expressional localization, as a nonequilibrium process, facilitates single-DNA genetic circuits as dissipative nanodevices, with implications for nanobiotechnology applications and artificial cell design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinand Greiss
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
| | - Nicolas Lardon
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leonie Schütz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoav Barak
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Shirley S Daube
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Elmar Weinhold
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Roy Bar-Ziv
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel.
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2
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Vezeau GE, Gadila LR, Salis HM. Automated design of protein-binding riboswitches for sensing human biomarkers in a cell-free expression system. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2416. [PMID: 37105971 PMCID: PMC10140043 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free genetically encoded biosensors have been developed to detect small molecules and nucleic acids, but they have yet to be reliably engineered to detect proteins. Here we develop an automated platform to convert protein-binding RNA aptamers into riboswitch sensors that operate within low-cost cell-free assays. We demonstrate the platform by engineering 35 protein-sensing riboswitches for human monomeric C-reactive protein, human interleukin-32γ, and phage MS2 coat protein. The riboswitch sensors regulate output expression levels by up to 16-fold with input protein concentrations within the human serum range. We identify two distinct mechanisms governing riboswitch-mediated regulation of translation rates and leverage computational analysis to refine the protein-binding aptamer regions, improving design accuracy. Overall, we expand the cell-free sensor toolbox and demonstrate how computational design is used to develop protein-sensing riboswitches with future applications as low-cost medical diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Vezeau
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Lipika R Gadila
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Howard M Salis
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
- Huck Institute Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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3
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Rasor BJ, Chirania P, Rybnicky GA, Giannone RJ, Engle NL, Tschaplinski TJ, Karim AS, Hettich RL, Jewett MC. Mechanistic Insights into Cell-Free Gene Expression through an Integrated -Omics Analysis of Extract Processing Methods. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:405-418. [PMID: 36700560 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free systems derived from crude cell extracts have developed into tools for gene expression, with applications in prototyping, biosensing, and protein production. Key to the development of these systems is optimization of cell extract preparation methods. However, the applied nature of these optimizations often limits investigation into the complex nature of the extracts themselves, which contain thousands of proteins and reaction networks with hundreds of metabolites. Here, we sought to uncover the black box of proteins and metabolites in Escherichia coli cell-free reactions based on different extract preparation methods. We assess changes in transcription and translation activity from σ70 promoters in extracts prepared with acetate or glutamate buffer and the common post-lysis processing steps of a runoff incubation and dialysis. We then utilize proteomic and metabolomic analyses to uncover potential mechanisms behind these changes in gene expression, highlighting the impact of cold shock-like proteins and the role of buffer composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake J Rasor
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Payal Chirania
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States.,Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Grant A Rybnicky
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Richard J Giannone
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Nancy L Engle
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Timothy J Tschaplinski
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Ashty S Karim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States
| | - Robert L Hettich
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, United States.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States.,Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
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4
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Vilkhovoy M, Dammalapati S, Vadhin S, Adhikari A, Varner JD. Integrated Constraint-Based Modeling of E. coli Cell-Free Protein Synthesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.10.528035. [PMID: 36798424 PMCID: PMC9934623 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.10.528035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein expression has become a widely used research tool in systems and synthetic biology and a promising technology for protein biomanufacturing. Cell-free protein synthesis relies on in-vitro transcription and translation processes to produce a protein of interest. However, transcription and translation depend upon the operation of complex metabolic pathways for precursor and energy regeneration. Toward understanding the role of metabolism in a cell-free system, we developed a dynamic constraint-based simulation of protein production in the myTXTL E. coli cell-free system with and without electron transport chain inhibitors. Time-resolved absolute metabolite measurements for â"³ = 63 metabolites, along with absolute concentration measurements of the mRNA and protein abundance and measurements of enzyme activity, were integrated with kinetic and enzyme abundance information to simulate the time evolution of metabolic flux and protein production with and without inhibitors. The metabolic flux distribution estimated by the model, along with the experimental metabolite and enzyme activity data, suggested that the myTXTL cell-free system has an active central carbon metabolism with glutamate powering the TCA cycle. Further, the electron transport chain inhibitor studies suggested the presence of oxidative phosphorylation activity in the myTXTL cell-free system; the oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors provided biochemical evidence that myTXTL relied, at least partially, on oxidative phosphorylation to generate the energy required to sustain transcription and translation for a 16-hour batch reaction.
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5
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Multiple Gene Expression in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems for Reconstructing Bacteriophages and Metabolic Pathways. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122477. [PMID: 36557730 PMCID: PMC9786908 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As a fast and reliable technology with applications in diverse biological studies, cell-free protein synthesis has become popular in recent decades. The cell-free protein synthesis system can be considered a complex chemical reaction system that is also open to exogenous manipulation, including that which could otherwise potentially harm the cell's viability. On the other hand, since the technology depends on the cell lysates by which genetic information is transformed into active proteins, the whole system resembles the cell to some extent. These features make cell-free protein synthesis a valuable addition to synthetic biology technologies, expediting the design-build-test-learn cycle of synthetic biology routines. While the system has traditionally been used to synthesize one protein product from one gene addition, recent studies have employed multiple gene products in order to, for example, develop novel bacteriophages, viral particles, or synthetic metabolisms. Thus, we would like to review recent advancements in applying cell-free protein synthesis technology to synthetic biology, with an emphasis on multiple gene expressions.
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6
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Islam MS, Gaston JP, Baker MAB. Fluorescence Approaches for Characterizing Ion Channels in Synthetic Bilayers. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:857. [PMID: 34832086 PMCID: PMC8619978 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11110857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ion channels are membrane proteins that play important roles in a wide range of fundamental cellular processes. Studying membrane proteins at a molecular level becomes challenging in complex cellular environments. Instead, many studies focus on the isolation and reconstitution of the membrane proteins into model lipid membranes. Such simpler, in vitro, systems offer the advantage of control over the membrane and protein composition and the lipid environment. Rhodopsin and rhodopsin-like ion channels are widely studied due to their light-interacting properties and are a natural candidate for investigation with fluorescence methods. Here we review techniques for synthesizing liposomes and for reconstituting membrane proteins into lipid bilayers. We then summarize fluorescence assays which can be used to verify the functionality of reconstituted membrane proteins in synthetic liposomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Sirajul Islam
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; (M.S.I.); (J.P.G.)
| | - James P. Gaston
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; (M.S.I.); (J.P.G.)
| | - Matthew A. B. Baker
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia; (M.S.I.); (J.P.G.)
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, GPO Box 2583, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
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7
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8
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Soltani M, Hunt JP, Bundy BC. Rapid RNase inhibitor production to enable low-cost, on-demand cell-free protein synthesis biosensor use in human body fluids. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3973-3983. [PMID: 34185319 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human body fluids contain biomarkers which are used extensively for prognostication, diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of different treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders. The application of biosensors based on cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) offers numerous advantages including on-demand and at-home use for fast, accurate detection of a variety of biomarkers in human fluids at an affordable price. However, current CFPS-based biosensors use commercial RNase inhibitors to inhibit different RNases present in human fluids and this reagent is approximately 90% of the expense of these biosensors. Here the flexible nature of Escherichia coli-lysate-based CFPS was used for the first time to produce murine RNase Inhibitor (m-RI) and to optimize its soluble and active production by tuning reaction temperature, reaction time, reduced potential, and addition of GroEL/ES folding chaperons. Furthermore, RNase inhibition activity of m-RI with the highest activity and stability was determined against increasing amounts of three human fluids of serum, saliva, and urine (0%-100% v/v) in lyophilized CFPS reactions. To further demonstrate the utility of the CFPS-produced m-RI, a lyophilized saliva-based glutamine biosensor was demonstrated to effectively work with saliva samples. Overall, the use of CFPS-produced m-RI reduces the total reagent costs of CFPS-based biosensors used in human body fluids approximately 90%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Soltani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - J Porter Hunt
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
| | - Bradley C Bundy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA
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9
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Hershewe JM, Warfel KF, Iyer SM, Peruzzi JA, Sullivan CJ, Roth EW, DeLisa MP, Kamat NP, Jewett MC. Improving cell-free glycoprotein synthesis by characterizing and enriching native membrane vesicles. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2363. [PMID: 33888690 PMCID: PMC8062659 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free gene expression (CFE) systems from crude cellular extracts have attracted much attention for biomanufacturing and synthetic biology. However, activating membrane-dependent functionality of cell-derived vesicles in bacterial CFE systems has been limited. Here, we address this limitation by characterizing native membrane vesicles in Escherichia coli-based CFE extracts and describing methods to enrich vesicles with heterologous, membrane-bound machinery. As a model, we focus on bacterial glycoengineering. We first use multiple, orthogonal techniques to characterize vesicles and show how extract processing methods can be used to increase concentrations of membrane vesicles in CFE systems. Then, we show that extracts enriched in vesicle number also display enhanced concentrations of heterologous membrane protein cargo. Finally, we apply our methods to enrich membrane-bound oligosaccharyltransferases and lipid-linked oligosaccharides for improving cell-free N-linked and O-linked glycoprotein synthesis. We anticipate that these methods will facilitate on-demand glycoprotein production and enable new CFE systems with membrane-associated activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine M Hershewe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Katherine F Warfel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Shaelyn M Iyer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Justin A Peruzzi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Claretta J Sullivan
- Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Eric W Roth
- Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization and Experimentation (NUANCE) Center, Tech Institute A/B Wing A173, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Matthew P DeLisa
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Biomedical and Biological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Neha P Kamat
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E310, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Technological Institute E136, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
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10
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Adhikari A, Vilkhovoy M, Vadhin S, Lim HE, Varner JD. Effective Biophysical Modeling of Cell Free Transcription and Translation Processes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:539081. [PMID: 33324619 PMCID: PMC7726328 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.539081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription and translation are at the heart of metabolism and signal transduction. In this study, we developed an effective biophysical modeling approach to simulate transcription and translation processes. The model, composed of coupled ordinary differential equations, was tested by comparing simulations of two cell free synthetic circuits with experimental measurements generated in this study. First, we considered a simple circuit in which sigma factor 70 induced the expression of green fluorescent protein. This relatively simple case was then followed by a more complex negative feedback circuit in which two control genes were coupled to the expression of a third reporter gene, green fluorescent protein. Many of the model parameters were estimated from previous biophysical studies in the literature, while the remaining unknown model parameters for each circuit were estimated by minimizing the difference between model simulations and messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein measurements generated in this study. In particular, either parameter estimates from published studies were used directly, or characteristic values found in the literature were used to establish feasible ranges for the parameter estimation problem. In order to perform a detailed analysis of the influence of individual model parameters on the expression dynamics of each circuit, global sensitivity analysis was used. Taken together, the effective biophysical modeling approach captured the expression dynamics, including the transcription dynamics, for the two synthetic cell free circuits. While, we considered only two circuits here, this approach could potentially be extended to simulate other genetic circuits in both cell free and whole cell biomolecular applications as the equations governing the regulatory control functions are modular and easily modifiable. The model code, parameters, and analysis scripts are available for download under an MIT software license from the Varnerlab GitHub repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Adhikari
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Michael Vilkhovoy
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Sandra Vadhin
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Ha Eun Lim
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Jeffrey D Varner
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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11
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Cole SD, Miklos AE, Chiao AC, Sun ZZ, Lux MW. Methodologies for preparation of prokaryotic extracts for cell-free expression systems. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:252-267. [PMID: 32775710 PMCID: PMC7398980 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems that mimic essential cell functions, such as gene expression, have dramatically expanded in recent years, both in terms of applications and widespread adoption. Here we provide a review of cell-extract methods, with a specific focus on prokaryotic systems. Firstly, we describe the diversity of Escherichia coli genetic strains available and their corresponding utility. We then trace the history of cell-extract methodology over the past 20 years, showing key improvements that lower the entry level for new researchers. Next, we survey the rise of new prokaryotic cell-free systems, with associated methods, and the opportunities provided. Finally, we use this historical perspective to comment on the role of methodology improvements and highlight where further improvements may be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie D. Cole
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Aleksandr E. Miklos
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Abel C. Chiao
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Zachary Z. Sun
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synvitrobio Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Matthew W. Lux
- US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center, 8567 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
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12
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Colant N, Melinek B, Teneb J, Goldrick S, Rosenberg W, Frank S, Bracewell DG. A rational approach to improving titer in Escherichia coli-based cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Biotechnol Prog 2020; 37:e3062. [PMID: 32761750 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is an established method for rapid recombinant protein production. Advantages like short synthesis times and an open reaction environment make CFPS a desirable platform for new and difficult-to-express products. Most recently, interest has grown in using the technology to make larger amounts of material. This has been driven through a variety of reasons from making site specific antibody drug conjugates, to emergency response, to the safe manufacture of toxic biological products. We therefore need robust methods to determine the appropriate reaction conditions for product expression in CFPS. Here we propose a process development strategy for Escherichia coli lysate-based CFPS reactions that can be completed in as little as 48 hr. We observed the most dramatic increases in titer were due to the E. coli strain for the cell extract. Therefore, we recommend identifying a high-producing cell extract for the product of interest as a first step. Next, we manipulated the plasmid concentration, amount of extract, temperature, concentrated reaction mix pH levels, and length of reaction. The influence of these process parameters on titer was evaluated through multivariate data analysis. The process parameters with the highest impact on titer were subsequently included in a design of experiments to determine the conditions that increased titer the most in the design space. This proposed process development strategy resulted in superfolder green fluorescent protein titers of 0.686 g/L, a 38% improvement on the standard operating conditions, and hepatitis B core antigen titers of 0.386 g/L, a 190% improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelle Colant
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Beatrice Melinek
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jaime Teneb
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Goldrick
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - William Rosenberg
- UCL Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Stefanie Frank
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel G Bracewell
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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13
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Marucci L, Barberis M, Karr J, Ray O, Race PR, de Souza Andrade M, Grierson C, Hoffmann SA, Landon S, Rech E, Rees-Garbutt J, Seabrook R, Shaw W, Woods C. Computer-Aided Whole-Cell Design: Taking a Holistic Approach by Integrating Synthetic With Systems Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:942. [PMID: 32850764 PMCID: PMC7426639 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Computer-aided design (CAD) for synthetic biology promises to accelerate the rational and robust engineering of biological systems. It requires both detailed and quantitative mathematical and experimental models of the processes to (re)design biology, and software and tools for genetic engineering and DNA assembly. Ultimately, the increased precision in the design phase will have a dramatic impact on the production of designer cells and organisms with bespoke functions and increased modularity. CAD strategies require quantitative models of cells that can capture multiscale processes and link genotypes to phenotypes. Here, we present a perspective on how whole-cell, multiscale models could transform design-build-test-learn cycles in synthetic biology. We show how these models could significantly aid in the design and learn phases while reducing experimental testing by presenting case studies spanning from genome minimization to cell-free systems. We also discuss several challenges for the realization of our vision. The possibility to describe and build whole-cells in silico offers an opportunity to develop increasingly automatized, precise and accessible CAD tools and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Marucci
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Matteo Barberis
- Systems Biology, School of Biosciences and Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.,Centre for Mathematical and Computational Biology, CMCB, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom.,Synthetic Systems Biology and Nuclear Organization, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Karr
- Icahn Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Oliver Ray
- Department of Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R Race
- Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Miguel de Souza Andrade
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation/National Institute of Science and Technology - Synthetic Biology, Brasília, Brazil.,Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Claire Grierson
- Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Andreas Hoffmann
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Landon
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Elibio Rech
- Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation/National Institute of Science and Technology - Synthetic Biology, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Joshua Rees-Garbutt
- Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Seabrook
- Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research (EBI), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - William Shaw
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Woods
- Bristol Centre for Synthetic Biology (BrisSynBio), University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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14
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Contreras-Llano LE, Meyer C, Liu Y, Sarker M, Lim S, Longo ML, Tan C. Holistic engineering of cell-free systems through proteome-reprogramming synthetic circuits. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3138. [PMID: 32561745 PMCID: PMC7305103 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16900-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology has focused on engineering genetic modules that operate orthogonally from the host cells. A synthetic biological module, however, can be designed to reprogram the host proteome, which in turn enhances the function of the synthetic module. Here, we apply this holistic synthetic biology concept to the engineering of cell-free systems by exploiting the crosstalk between metabolic networks in cells, leading to a protein environment more favorable for protein synthesis. Specifically, we show that local modules expressing translation machinery can reprogram the bacterial proteome, changing the expression levels of more than 700 proteins. The resultant feedback generates a cell-free system that can synthesize fluorescent reporters, protein nanocages, and the gene-editing nuclease Cas9, with up to 5-fold higher expression level than classical cell-free systems. Our work demonstrates a holistic approach that integrates synthetic and systems biology concepts to achieve outcomes not possible by only local, orthogonal circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Contreras-Llano
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Conary Meyer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Mridul Sarker
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Block N1.3, Singapore, 637457, Singapore
| | - Sierin Lim
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, Block N1.3, Singapore, 637457, Singapore
| | - Marjorie L Longo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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15
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Silverman AD, Karim AS, Jewett MC. Cell-free gene expression: an expanded repertoire of applications. Nat Rev Genet 2019; 21:151-170. [DOI: 10.1038/s41576-019-0186-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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16
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Versatile biomanufacturing through stimulus-responsive cell-material feedback. Nat Chem Biol 2019; 15:1017-1024. [PMID: 31527836 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-019-0357-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Small-scale production of biologics has great potential for enhancing the accessibility of biomanufacturing. By exploiting cell-material feedback, we have designed a concise platform to achieve versatile production, analysis and purification of diverse proteins and protein complexes. The core of our technology is a microbial swarmbot, which consists of a stimulus-sensitive polymeric microcapsule encapsulating engineered bacteria. By sensing the confinement, the bacteria undergo programmed partial lysis at a high local density. Conversely, the encapsulating material shrinks responding to the changing chemical environment caused by cell growth, squeezing out the protein products released by bacterial lysis. This platform is then integrated with downstream modules to enable quantification of enzymatic kinetics, purification of diverse proteins, quantitative control of protein interactions and assembly of functional protein complexes and multienzyme metabolic pathways. Our work demonstrates the use of the cell-material feedback to engineer a modular and flexible platform with sophisticated yet well-defined programmed functions.
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17
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Yesselman JD, Eiler D, Carlson ED, Gotrik MR, d'Aquino AE, Ooms AN, Kladwang W, Carlson PD, Shi X, Costantino DA, Herschlag D, Lucks JB, Jewett MC, Kieft JS, Das R. Computational design of three-dimensional RNA structure and function. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 14:866-873. [PMID: 31427748 PMCID: PMC7324284 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-019-0517-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
RNA nanotechnology seeks to create nanoscale machines by repurposing natural RNA modules. The field is slowed by the current need for human intuition during three-dimensional structural design. Here, we demonstrate that three distinct problems in RNA nanotechnology can be reduced to a pathfinding problem and automatically solved through an algorithm called RNAMake. First, RNAMake discovers highly stable single-chain solutions to the classic problem of aligning a tetraloop and its sequence-distal receptor, with experimental validation from chemical mapping, gel electrophoresis, solution X-ray scattering and crystallography with 2.55 Å resolution. Second, RNAMake automatically generates structured tethers that integrate 16S and 23S ribosomal RNAs into single-chain ribosomal RNAs that remain uncleaved by ribonucleases and assemble onto messenger RNA. Third, RNAMake enables the automated stabilization of small-molecule binding RNAs, with designed tertiary contacts that improve the binding affinity of the ATP aptamer and improve the fluorescence and stability of the Spinach RNA in cell extracts and in living Escherichia coli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Yesselman
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Eiler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Erik D Carlson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Michael R Gotrik
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anne E d'Aquino
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Alexandra N Ooms
- Department of Cancer Genetics & Genomics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wipapat Kladwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Paul D Carlson
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Xuesong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David A Costantino
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Daniel Herschlag
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford ChEM-H (Chemistry, Engineering, and Medicine for Human Health), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Julius B Lucks
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Center for Synthetic Biology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rhiju Das
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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18
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Marshall R, Noireaux V. Quantitative modeling of transcription and translation of an all-E. coli cell-free system. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11980. [PMID: 31427623 PMCID: PMC6700315 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48468-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) is expanding as a polyvalent experimental platform to engineer biological systems outside living organisms. As the number of TXTL applications and users is rapidly growing, some aspects of this technology could be better characterized to provide a broader description of its basic working mechanisms. In particular, developing simple quantitative biophysical models that grasp the different regimes of in vitro gene expression, using relevant kinetic constants and concentrations of molecular components, remains insufficiently examined. In this work, we present an ODE (Ordinary Differential Equation)-based model of the expression of a reporter gene in an all E. coli TXTL that we apply to a set of regulatory elements spanning several orders of magnitude in strengths, far beyond the T7 standard system used in most of the TXTL platforms. Several key biochemical constants are experimentally determined through fluorescence assays. The robustness of the model is tested against the experimental parameters, and limitations of TXTL resources are described. We establish quantitative references between the performance of E. coli and synthetic promoters and ribosome binding sites. The model and the data should be useful for the TXTL community interested either in gene network engineering or in biomanufacturing beyond the conventional platforms relying on phage transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Marshall
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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19
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Garenne D, Beisel CL, Noireaux V. Characterization of the all-E. coli transcription-translation system myTXTL by mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2019; 33:1036-1048. [PMID: 30900355 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.8438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cell-free transcription-translation (TXTL) is becoming a popular technology to prototype and engineer biological systems outside living organisms. TXTL relies commonly on a cytoplasmic extract that provides the molecular components necessary to recapitulate gene expression in vitro, where most of the available systems are derived from E. coli. The proteinic and enzymatic composition of lysates, however, is typically unknown. In this work, we analyzed by mass spectrometry the molecular constituents of the all-E. coli TXTL platform myTXTL prepared from the E. coli strain BL21 Rosetta2. METHODS Standard TXTL reactions were assembled and executed for 10-12 hours at 29°C. In addition to a no-DNA control, four DNA programs were executed in separate reactions to synthesize the reporter protein deGFP as well as the phages MS2, phix174 and T7. The reactions were treated according to standard procedures (trypsin treatment, cleaning) before performing liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Data analysis was performed using Sequest and protein identification using Scaffold. RESULTS A total of 500-800 proteins were identified by LC/MS in the blank reactions. We organized the most abundant protein sets into several categories pertaining, in particular, to transcription, translation and ATP regeneration. The synthesis of deGFP was easily measured. The major structural proteins that compose the three phages MS2, phix174 and T7 were also identified. CONCLUSIONS Mass spectrometry is a practical tool to characterize biochemical solutions as complex as a cell-free TXTL reaction and to determine the presence of synthesized proteins. The data presented demonstrate that the composition of TXTL based on lysates can be used to validate some underlying molecular mechanisms implicated in cell-free protein synthesis. The composition of the lysate shows significant differences with respect to similar studies on other E. coli strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Garenne
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Chase L Beisel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Center for Infection (HZI) Research, 97080, Würzburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Vincent Noireaux
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 115 Union Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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20
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Doerr A, de Reus E, van Nies P, van der Haar M, Wei K, Kattan J, Wahl A, Danelon C. Modelling cell-free RNA and protein synthesis with minimal systems. Phys Biol 2019; 16:025001. [DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/aaf33d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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21
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Koch M, Faulon JL, Borkowski O. Models for Cell-Free Synthetic Biology: Make Prototyping Easier, Better, and Faster. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:182. [PMID: 30555825 PMCID: PMC6281764 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free TX-TL is an increasingly mature and useful platform for prototyping, testing, and engineering biological parts and systems. However, to fully accomplish the promises of synthetic biology, mathematical models are required to facilitate the design and predict the behavior of biological components in cell-free extracts. We review here the latest models accounting for transcription, translation, competition, and depletion of resources as well as genome scale models for lysate-based cell-free TX-TL systems, including their current limitations. These models will have to find ways to account for batch-to-batch variability before being quantitatively predictive in cell-free lysate-based platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Koch
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, University of Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jean-Loup Faulon
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, University of Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Lab, CEA, CNRS, UMR 8030, Genomics Metabolics, University Paris-Saclay, Évry, France
- SYNBIOCHEM Center, School of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Olivier Borkowski
- Micalis Institute, INRA, AgroParisTech, University of Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Lab, CEA, CNRS, UMR 8030, Genomics Metabolics, University Paris-Saclay, Évry, France
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22
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Expanding biological applications using cell-free metabolic engineering: An overview. Metab Eng 2018; 50:156-172. [PMID: 30367967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Expanding the concept of cell-free biology, implemented both with purified components and crude extracts, is continuing to deepen our appreciation of biological fundamentals while enlarging the range of applications. We are no longer intimidated by the complexity of crude extracts and complicated reaction systems with hundreds of active components, and, instead, coordinately activate and inactivate metabolic processes to focus and expand the capabilities of natural biological processes. This, in turn, dramatically increases the range of benefits offered by new products, both natural and supernatural, that were previously infeasible and/or unimaginable. This overview of cell-free metabolic engineering provides a broad range of examples and insights to guide and motivate continued research that will further expand fundamental understanding and beneficial applications. However, this survey also reveals how far we are from fully unlocking the potential offered by natural and engineered biological components and systems. This is an exciting conclusion, but metabolic engineering by itself is not sufficient. Going forward, innovative metabolic engineering must be intimately combined with creative process engineering to fully realize potential contributions toward a sustainable global civilization.
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23
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Zhang Y, Huang Q, Deng Z, Xu Y, Liu T. Enhancing the efficiency of cell-free protein synthesis system by systematic titration of transcription and translation components. Biochem Eng J 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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24
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Vilkhovoy M, Horvath N, Shih CH, Wayman JA, Calhoun K, Swartz J, Varner JD. Sequence Specific Modeling of E. coli Cell-Free Protein Synthesis. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:1844-1857. [PMID: 29944340 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a widely used research tool in systems and synthetic biology. However, if CFPS is to become a mainstream technology for applications such as point of care manufacturing, we must understand the performance limits and costs of these systems. Toward this question, we used sequence specific constraint based modeling to evaluate the performance of E. coli cell-free protein synthesis. A core E. coli metabolic network, describing glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, energy metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and degradation was augmented with sequence specific descriptions of transcription and translation and effective models of promoter function. Model parameters were largely taken from literature; thus the constraint based approach coupled the transcription and translation of the protein product, and the regulation of gene expression, with the availability of metabolic resources using only a limited number of adjustable model parameters. We tested this approach by simulating the expression of two model proteins: chloramphenicol acetyltransferase and dual emission green fluorescent protein, for which we have data sets; we then expanded the simulations to a range of additional proteins. Protein expression simulations were consistent with measurements for a variety of cases. The constraint based simulations confirmed that oxidative phosphorylation was active in the CAT cell-free extract, as without it there was no feasible solution within the experimental constraints of the system. We then compared the metabolism of theoretically optimal and experimentally constrained CFPS reactions, and developed parameter free correlations which could be used to estimate productivity as a function of carbon number and promoter type. Lastly, global sensitivity analysis identified the key metabolic processes that controlled CFPS productivity and energy efficiency. In summary, sequence specific constraint based modeling of CFPS offered a novel means to a priori estimate the performance of a cell-free system, using only a limited number of adjustable parameters. While we modeled the production of a single protein in this study, the approach could easily be extended to multiprotein synthetic circuits, RNA circuits, or the cell-free production of small molecule products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Vilkhovoy
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Nicholas Horvath
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Che-Hsiao Shih
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Joseph A. Wayman
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Kara Calhoun
- School of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - James Swartz
- School of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Varner
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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25
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Jamiolkowski RM, Chen C, Cooperman BS, Goldman YE. tRNA Fluctuations Observed on Stalled Ribosomes Are Suppressed during Ongoing Protein Synthesis. Biophys J 2018; 113:2326-2335. [PMID: 29211986 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The pretranslocation complex of the ribosome can undergo spontaneous fluctuations of messenger RNA and transfer RNAs (tRNAs) between classical and hybrid states, and occupation of the hybrid tRNA positions has been proposed to precede translocation. The classical and hybrid state tRNA positions have been extensively characterized when the ribosome is stalled along the messenger RNA by either the absence or delayed addition of elongation factor G (EF-G), or by the presence of antibiotics or GTP analogs that block translocation. However, during multiple ongoing elongation cycles when both EF-G and ternary complexes are present, EF-G can bind to the pretranslocation complex much faster than the timescale of the classic-hybrid transitions. Using single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer between adjacent tRNAs and between A-site tRNA and ribosomal protein L11, we found that the tRNAs do not fluctuate between the hybrid and classical states, but instead adopt a position with fluorescence resonance energy transfer efficiencies between those of the stalled classical and hybrid states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan M Jamiolkowski
- Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Chunlai Chen
- Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Barry S Cooperman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Yale E Goldman
- Pennsylvania Muscle Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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26
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Chongsiriwatana NP, Lin JS, Kapoor R, Wetzler M, Rea JAC, Didwania MK, Contag CH, Barron AE. Intracellular biomass flocculation as a key mechanism of rapid bacterial killing by cationic, amphipathic antimicrobial peptides and peptoids. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16718. [PMID: 29196622 PMCID: PMC5711933 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16180-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many organisms rely on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a first line of defense against pathogens. In general, most AMPs are thought to kill bacteria by binding to and disrupting cell membranes. However, certain AMPs instead appear to inhibit biomacromolecule synthesis, while causing less membrane damage. Despite an unclear understanding of mechanism(s), there is considerable interest in mimicking AMPs with stable, synthetic molecules. Antimicrobial N-substituted glycine (peptoid) oligomers ("ampetoids") are structural, functional and mechanistic analogs of helical, cationic AMPs, which offer broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and better therapeutic potential than peptides. Here, we show through quantitative studies of membrane permeabilization, electron microscopy, and soft X-ray tomography that both AMPs and ampetoids trigger extensive and rapid non-specific aggregation of intracellular biomacromolecules that correlates with microbial death. We present data demonstrating that ampetoids are "fast killers", which rapidly aggregate bacterial ribosomes in vitro and in vivo. We suggest intracellular biomass flocculation is a key mechanism of killing for cationic, amphipathic AMPs, which may explain why most AMPs require micromolar concentrations for activity, show significant selectivity for killing bacteria over mammalian cells, and finally, why development of resistance to AMPs is less prevalent than developed resistance to conventional antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel P Chongsiriwatana
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
| | - Jennifer S Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Rinki Kapoor
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Modi Wetzler
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Jennifer A C Rea
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States
| | - Maruti K Didwania
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Christopher H Contag
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, Pediatrics, and Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
| | - Annelise E Barron
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.
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27
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Failmezger J, Rauter M, Nitschel R, Kraml M, Siemann-Herzberg M. Cell-free protein synthesis from non-growing, stressed Escherichia coli. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16524. [PMID: 29184159 PMCID: PMC5705671 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16767-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis is a versatile protein production system. Performance of the protein synthesis depends on highly active cytoplasmic extracts. Extracts from E. coli are believed to work best; they are routinely obtained from exponential growing cells, aiming to capture the most active translation system. Here, we report an active cell-free protein synthesis system derived from cells harvested at non-growth, stressed conditions. We found a downshift of ribosomes and proteins. However, a characterization revealed that the stoichiometry of ribosomes and key translation factors was conserved, pointing to a fully intact translation system. This was emphasized by synthesis rates, which were comparable to those of systems obtained from fast-growing cells. Our approach is less laborious than traditional extract preparation methods and multiplies the yield of extract per cultivation. This simplified growth protocol has the potential to attract new entrants to cell-free protein synthesis and to broaden the pool of applications. In this respect, a translation system originating from heat stressed, non-growing E. coli enabled an extension of endogenous transcription units. This was demonstrated by the sigma factor depending activation of parallel transcription. Our cell-free expression platform adds to the existing versatility of cell-free translation systems and presents a tool for cell-free biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurek Failmezger
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Rauter
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Robert Nitschel
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Kraml
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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28
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Peetz O, Henrich E, Laguerre A, Löhr F, Hein C, Dötsch V, Bernhard F, Morgner N. Insights into Cotranslational Membrane Protein Insertion by Combined LILBID-Mass Spectrometry and NMR Spectroscopy. Anal Chem 2017; 89:12314-12318. [PMID: 29039652 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cotranslational insertion of membrane proteins into defined nanoparticle membranes has been developed as an efficient process to produce highly soluble samples in native-like environments and to study lipid-dependent effects on protein structure and function. Numerous examples of the structural and functional characterization of transporters, ion channels, or G-protein-coupled receptors in cotranslationally formed nanodisc complexes demonstrate the versatility of this approach, although the basic underlying mechanisms of membrane insertion are mainly unknown. We have revealed the first aspects of the insertion of proteins into nanodiscs by combining cell-free expression, noncovalent mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. We provide evidence of cooperative insertion of homo-oligomeric complexes and demonstrate the possibility to modulate their stoichiometry by modifying reaction conditions. Additionally, we show that significant amounts of lipid are released from the nanodiscs upon insertion of larger protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Peetz
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Erik Henrich
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Aisha Laguerre
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Christopher Hein
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Nina Morgner
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry and ‡Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University , Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
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29
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Nieß A, Failmezger J, Kuschel M, Siemann-Herzberg M, Takors R. Experimentally Validated Model Enables Debottlenecking of in Vitro Protein Synthesis and Identifies a Control Shift under in Vivo Conditions. ACS Synth Biol 2017. [PMID: 28627886 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free (in vitro) protein synthesis (CFPS) systems provide a versatile tool that can be used to investigate different aspects of the transcription-translation machinery by reducing cells to the basic functions of protein formation. Recent improvements in reaction stability and lysate preparation offer the potential to expand the scope of in vitro biosynthesis from a research tool to a multifunctional and versatile platform for protein production and synthetic biology. To date, even the best-performing CFPS systems are drastically slower than in vivo references. Major limitations are imposed by ribosomal activities that progress in an order of magnitude slower on the mRNA template. Owing to the complex nature of the ribosomal machinery, conventional "trial and error" experiments only provide little insight into how the desired performance could be improved. By applying a DNA-sequence-oriented mechanistic model, we analyzed the major differences between cell-free in vitro and in vivo protein synthesis. We successfully identified major limiting elements of in vitro translation, namely the supply of ternary complexes consisting of EFTu and tRNA. Additionally, we showed that diluted in vitro systems suffer from reduced ribosome numbers. On the basis of our model, we propose a new experimental design predicting 90% increased translation rates, which were well achieved in experiments. Furthermore, we identified a shifting control in the translation rate, which is characterized by availability of the ternary complex under in vitro conditions and the initiation of translation in a living cell. Accordingly, the model can successfully be applied to sensitivity analyses and experimental design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Nieß
- Institute
of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany
| | - Jurek Failmezger
- Institute
of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany
| | - Maike Kuschel
- Institute
of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany
| | | | - Ralf Takors
- Institute
of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany
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30
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Hurst GB, Asano KG, Doktycz CJ, Consoli EJ, Doktycz WL, Foster CM, Morrell-Falvey JL, Standaert RF, Doktycz MJ. Proteomics-Based Tools for Evaluation of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis. Anal Chem 2017; 89:11443-11451. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b02555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Robert F. Standaert
- University of Tennessee, Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
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31
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Tran K, Gurramkonda C, Cooper MA, Pilli M, Taris JE, Selock N, Han T, Tolosa M, Zuber A, Peñalber‐Johnstone C, Dinkins C, Pezeshk N, Kostov Y, Frey DD, Tolosa L, Wood DW, Rao G. Cell‐free production of a therapeutic protein: Expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant streptokinase using a CHO lysate. Biotechnol Bioeng 2017; 115:92-102. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Tran
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | | | - Merideth A. Cooper
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringOhio State UniversityColumbusOhio
| | - Manohar Pilli
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Joseph E. Taris
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringOhio State UniversityColumbusOhio
| | - Nicholas Selock
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Tzu‐Chiang Han
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringOhio State UniversityColumbusOhio
| | - Michael Tolosa
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Adil Zuber
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | | | - Christina Dinkins
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Niloufar Pezeshk
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Yordan Kostov
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Douglas D. Frey
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Leah Tolosa
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
| | - David W. Wood
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringOhio State UniversityColumbusOhio
| | - Govind Rao
- Center for Advanced Sensor TechnologyUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
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32
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Foshag D, Henrich E, Hiller E, Schäfer M, Kerger C, Burger-Kentischer A, Diaz-Moreno I, García-Mauriño SM, Dötsch V, Rupp S, Bernhard F. The E. coli S30 lysate proteome: A prototype for cell-free protein production. N Biotechnol 2017; 40:245-260. [PMID: 28943390 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Protein production using processed cell lysates is a core technology in synthetic biology and these systems are excellent to produce difficult toxins or membrane proteins. However, the composition of the central lysate of cell-free systems is still a "black box". Escherichia coli lysates are most productive for cell-free expression, yielding several mgs of protein per ml of reaction. Their preparation implies proteome fractionation, resulting in strongly biased and yet unknown lysate compositions. Many metabolic pathways are expected to be truncated or completely removed. The lack of knowledge of basic cell-free lysate proteomes is a major bottleneck for directed lysate engineering approaches as well as for assay design using non-purified reaction mixtures. This study is starting to close this gap by providing a blueprint of the S30 lysate proteome derived from the commonly used E. coli strain A19. S30 lysates are frequently used for cell-free protein production and represent the basis of most commercial E. coli cell-free expression systems. A fraction of 821 proteins was identified as the core proteome in S30 lysates, representing approximately a quarter of the known E. coli proteome. Its classification into functional groups relevant for transcription/translation, folding, stability and metabolic processes will build the framework for tailored cell-free reactions. As an example, we show that SOS response induction during cultivation results in tuned S30 lysate with better folding capacity, and improved solubility and activity of synthesized proteins. The presented data and protocols can serve as a platform for the generation of customized cell-free systems and product analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Foshag
- Institute for Interfacial Process Engineering and Plasma Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Erik Henrich
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ekkehard Hiller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Miriam Schäfer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christian Kerger
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Irene Diaz-Moreno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ) - Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Sofía M García-Mauriño
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ) - Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Volker Dötsch
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Steffen Rupp
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Frank Bernhard
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance, J.W. Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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33
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Kempf N, Remes C, Ledesch R, Züchner T, Höfig H, Ritter I, Katranidis A, Fitter J. A Novel Method to Evaluate Ribosomal Performance in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46753. [PMID: 28436469 PMCID: PMC5402277 DOI: 10.1038/srep46753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) systems were designed to produce proteins with a minimal set of purified components, thus offering the possibility to follow translation as well as protein folding. In order to characterize the performance of the ribosomes in such a system, it is crucial to separately quantify the two main components of productivity, namely the fraction of active ribosomes and the number of synthesizing cycles. Here, we provide a direct and highly reliable measure of ribosomal activity in any given CFPS system, introducing an enhanced-arrest peptide variant. We observe an almost complete stalling of ribosomes that produce GFPem (~95%), as determined by common centrifugation techniques and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Moreover, we thoroughly study the effect of different ribosomal modifications independently on activity and number of synthesizing cycles. Finally, employing two-colour coincidence detection and two-colour colocalisation microscopy, we demonstrate real-time access to key productivity parameters with minimal sample consumption on a single ribosome level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Kempf
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Cristina Remes
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ralph Ledesch
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Tina Züchner
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Henning Höfig
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Physikalisches Institut (IA), RWTH Aachen, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ilona Ritter
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Fitter
- Institute of Complex Systems ICS-5, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Physikalisches Institut (IA), RWTH Aachen, 52062 Aachen, Germany
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34
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Failmezger J, Nitschel R, Sánchez-Kopper A, Kraml M, Siemann-Herzberg M. Site-Specific Cleavage of Ribosomal RNA in Escherichia coli-Based Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Systems. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168764. [PMID: 27992588 PMCID: PMC5167549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-free protein synthesis, which mimics the biological protein production system, allows rapid expression of proteins without the need to maintain a viable cell. Nevertheless, cell-free protein expression relies on active in vivo translation machinery including ribosomes and translation factors. Here, we examined the integrity of the protein synthesis machinery, namely the functionality of ribosomes, during (i) the cell-free extract preparation and (ii) the performance of in vitro protein synthesis by analyzing crucial components involved in translation. Monitoring the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, elongation factors and ribosomal protein S1, we show that processing of a cell-free extract results in no substantial alteration of the translation machinery. Moreover, we reveal that the 16S rRNA is specifically cleaved at helix 44 during in vitro translation reactions, resulting in the removal of the anti-Shine-Dalgarno sequence. These defective ribosomes accumulate in the cell-free system. We demonstrate that the specific cleavage of the 16S rRNA is triggered by the decreased concentrations of Mg2+. In addition, we provide evidence that helix 44 of the 30S ribosomal subunit serves as a point-of-entry for ribosome degradation in Escherichia coli. Our results suggest that Mg2+ homeostasis is fundamental to preserving functional ribosomes in cell-free protein synthesis systems, which is of major importance for cell-free protein synthesis at preparative scale, in order to create highly efficient technical in vitro systems.
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MESH Headings
- Cell-Free System/chemistry
- Cell-Free System/metabolism
- Escherichia coli/chemistry
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Magnesium/chemistry
- Magnesium/metabolism
- Protein Biosynthesis
- RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
- RNA, Bacterial/chemistry
- RNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 23S/metabolism
- Ribosome Subunits, Small, Bacterial/chemistry
- Ribosome Subunits, Small, Bacterial/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurek Failmezger
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Robert Nitschel
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Michael Kraml
- Institute of Biochemical Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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35
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Hansen MMK, Ventosa Rosquelles M, Yelleswarapu M, Maas RJM, van Vugt-Jonker AJ, Heus HA, Huck WTS. Protein Synthesis in Coupled and Uncoupled Cell-Free Prokaryotic Gene Expression Systems. ACS Synth Biol 2016; 5:1433-1440. [PMID: 27306580 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.6b00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Secondary structure formation of mRNA, caused by desynchronization of transcription and translation, is known to impact gene expression in vivo. Yet, inactivation of mRNA by secondary structures in cell-free protein expression is frequently overlooked. Transcription and translation rates are often not highly synchronized in cell-free expression systems, leading to a temporal mismatch between the processes and a drop in efficiency of protein production. By devising a cell-free gene expression platform in which transcriptional and translational elongation are successfully performed independently, we determine that sequence-dependent mRNA secondary structures are the main cause of mRNA inactivation in in vitro gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike M. K. Hansen
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Ventosa Rosquelles
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maaruthy Yelleswarapu
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roel J. M. Maas
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Aafke J. van Vugt-Jonker
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hans A. Heus
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wilhelm T. S. Huck
- Radboud University, Institute for Molecules
and Materials, Heyendaalseweg
135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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36
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Hunt JP, Yang SO, Wilding KM, Bundy BC. The growing impact of lyophilized cell-free protein expression systems. Bioengineered 2016; 8:325-330. [PMID: 27791452 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2016.1241925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently reported shelf-stable, on-demand protein synthesis platforms are enabling new possibilities in biotherapeutics, biosensing, biocatalysis, and high throughput protein expression. Lyophilized cell-free protein expression systems not only overcome cold-storage limitations, but also enable stockpiling for on-demand synthesis and completely sterilize the protein synthesis platform. Recently reported high-yield synthesis of cytotoxic protein Onconase from lyophilized E. coli extract preparations demonstrates the utility of lyophilized cell-free protein expression and its potential for creating on-demand biotherapeutics, vaccines, biosensors, biocatalysts, and high throughput protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Porter Hunt
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , Brigham Young University , Provo , Utah , USA
| | - Seung Ook Yang
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , Brigham Young University , Provo , Utah , USA
| | - Kristen M Wilding
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , Brigham Young University , Provo , Utah , USA
| | - Bradley C Bundy
- a Department of Chemical Engineering , Brigham Young University , Provo , Utah , USA
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37
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Rodnina MV. The ribosome in action: Tuning of translational efficiency and protein folding. Protein Sci 2016; 25:1390-406. [PMID: 27198711 DOI: 10.1002/pro.2950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The cellular proteome is shaped by the combined activities of the gene expression and quality control machineries. While transcription plays an undoubtedly important role, in recent years also translation emerged as a key step that defines the composition and quality of the proteome and the functional activity of proteins in the cell. Among the different post-transcriptional control mechanisms, translation initiation and elongation provide multiple checkpoints that can affect translational efficiency. A multitude of specific signals in mRNAs can determine the frequency of translation initiation, choice of the open reading frame, global and local elongation velocities, and the folding of the emerging protein. In addition to specific signatures in the mRNAs, also variations in the global pools of translation components, including ribosomes, tRNAs, mRNAs, and translation factors can alter translational efficiencies. The cellular outcomes of phenomena such as mRNA codon bias are sometimes difficult to understand due to the staggering complexity of covariates that affect codon usage, translation, and protein folding. Here we summarize the experimental evidence on how the ribosome-together with the other components of the translational machinery-can alter translational efficiencies of mRNA at the initiation and elongation stages and how translation velocity affects protein folding. We seek to explain these findings in the context of mechanistic work on the ribosome. The results argue in favour of a new understanding of translation control as a hub that links mRNA homeostasis to production and quality control of proteins in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina V Rodnina
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, 37077, Germany
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38
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Fogeron ML, Jirasko V, Penzel S, Paul D, Montserret R, Danis C, Lacabanne D, Badillo A, Gouttenoire J, Moradpour D, Bartenschlager R, Penin F, Meier BH, Böckmann A. Cell-free expression, purification, and membrane reconstitution for NMR studies of the nonstructural protein 4B from hepatitis C virus. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2016; 65:87-98. [PMID: 27233794 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-016-0040-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We describe the expression of the hepatitis C virus nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B), which is an integral membrane protein, in a wheat germ cell-free system, the subsequent purification and characterization of NS4B and its insertion into proteoliposomes in amounts sufficient for multidimensional solid-state NMR spectroscopy. First spectra of the isotopically [(2)H,(13)C,(15)N]-labeled protein are shown to yield narrow (13)C resonance lines and a proper, predominantly α-helical fold. Clean residue-selective leucine, isoleucine and threonine-labeling is demonstrated. These results evidence the suitability of the wheat germ-produced integral membrane protein NS4B for solid-state NMR. Still, the proton linewidth under fast magic angle spinning is broader than expected for a perfect sample and possible causes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laure Fogeron
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
| | - Vlastimil Jirasko
- Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Susanne Penzel
- Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Paul
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Montserret
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
| | - Clément Danis
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
| | - Denis Lacabanne
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
| | - Aurélie Badillo
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
- Recombinant Protein Unit, RD-Biotech, 3 rue Henri Baigue, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Jérôme Gouttenoire
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Darius Moradpour
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ralf Bartenschlager
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Molecular Virology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - François Penin
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France
| | - Beat H Meier
- Physical Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Anja Böckmann
- Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Bases Moléculaires et Structurales des Systèmes Infectieux, Labex Ecofect, UMR 5086 CNRS, Université de Lyon, 7 passage du Vercors, 69367, Lyon, France.
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39
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Shankles PG, Timm AC, Doktycz MJ, Retterer ST. Fabrication of nanoporous membranes for tuning microbial interactions and biochemical reactions. JOURNAL OF VACUUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. B, NANOTECHNOLOGY & MICROELECTRONICS : MATERIALS, PROCESSING, MEASUREMENT, & PHENOMENA : JVST B 2015. [PMID: 26543684 DOI: 10.1116/1.4932155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
New strategies for combining conventional photo- and soft-lithographic techniques with high-resolution patterning and etching strategies are needed in order to produce multiscale fluidic platforms that address the full range of functional scales seen in complex biological and chemical systems. The smallest resolution required for an application often dictates the fabrication method used. Micromachining and micropowder blasting yield higher throughput, but lack the resolution needed to fully address biological and chemical systems at the cellular and molecular scales. In contrast, techniques such as electron beam lithography or nanoimprinting allow nanoscale resolution, but are traditionally considered costly and slow. Other techniques such as photolithography or soft lithography have characteristics between these extremes. Combining these techniques to fabricate multiscale or hybrid fluidics allows fundamental biological and chemical questions to be answered. In this study, a combination of photolithography and electron beam lithography are used to produce two multiscale fluidic devices that incorporate porous membranes into complex fluidic networks in order to control the flow of energy, information, and materials in chemical form. In the first device, materials and energy were used to support chemical reactions. A nanoporous membrane fabricated with e-beam lithography separates two parallel, serpentine channels. Photolithography was used to pattern microfluidic channels around the membrane. The pores were written at 150 nm and reduced in size with silicon dioxide deposition from plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition and atomic layer deposition. Using this method, the molecular weight cutoff of the membrane can be adapted to the system of interest. In the second approach, photolithography was used to fabricate 200 nm thin pores. The pores confined microbes and allowed energy replenishment from a media perfusion channel. The same device can be used for study of intercellular communication via the secretion and uptake of signal molecules. Pore size was tested with 750 nm fluorescent polystyrene beads and fluorescein dye. The 200 nm polydimethylsiloxane pores were shown to be robust enough to hold 750 nm beads while under pressure, but allow fluorescein to diffuse across the barrier. Further testing showed that extended culture of bacteria within the chambers was possible. These two examples show how lithographically defined porous membranes can be adapted to two unique situations and used to tune the flow of chemical energy, materials, and information within a microfluidic network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Shankles
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; The Center for Nanophase Material Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; and The Bredesen Center, The University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
| | - Andrea C Timm
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
| | - Mitchel J Doktycz
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; The Center for Nanophase Material Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; and The Bredesen Center, The University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
| | - Scott T Retterer
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; The Center for Nanophase Material Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831; and The Bredesen Center, The University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
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40
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Abstract
Antibody conjugates are important in many areas of medicine and biological research, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are becoming an important next generation class of therapeutics for cancer treatment. Early conjugation technologies relied upon random conjugation to multiple amino acid side chains, resulting in heterogeneous mixtures of labeled antibody. Recent studies, however, strongly support the notion that site-specific conjugation produces a homogeneous population of antibody conjugates with improved pharmacologic properties over randomly coupled molecules. Genetically incorporated unnatural amino acids (uAAs) allow unique orthogonal coupling strategies compared to those used for the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. Thus, uAAs provide a novel paradigm for creation of next generation ADCs. Additionally, uAA-based site-specific conjugation could also empower creation of additional multifunctional conjugates important as biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor J Hallam
- †Sutro Biopharma, 310 Utah Avenue, Suite 150, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Erik Wold
- ‡The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Alan Wahl
- §Ambrx, Inc. 10975 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Vaughn V Smider
- ‡The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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41
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Abstract
Antibody-drug conjugates are an important and emerging drug class for the treatment of cancer. Recent evidence strongly suggests that site-specific drug conjugation results in a homogenous population of molecules with more favorable activity and pharmacokinetic properties than randomly conjugated antibodies. Unnatural amino acids (uAAs) can be incorporated in recombinant proteins to enable unique orthogonal chemistries in comparison to the side chains of the natural 20 amino acids. Thus, uAAs present a novel platform for which to create next-generation antibody-drug conjugates. Furthermore, site-specific conjugation through uAAs can also enpower unique small molecule, bispecific, multispecific and other conjugates that could be important constructs for therapeutics, diagnostics and research reagents. Here, we review the progress in uAA incorporation and conjugate construction through both cell-based and -free approaches.
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42
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Fritz BR, Jamil OK, Jewett MC. Implications of macromolecular crowding and reducing conditions for in vitro ribosome construction. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 43:4774-84. [PMID: 25897121 PMCID: PMC4482083 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro construction of Escherichia coli ribosomes could elucidate a deeper understanding of these complex molecular machines and make possible the production of synthetic variants with new functions. Toward this goal, we recently developed an integrated synthesis, assembly and translation (iSAT) system that allows for co-activation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) transcription and ribosome assembly, mRNA transcription and protein translation without intact cells. Here, we discovered that macromolecular crowding and reducing agents increase overall iSAT protein synthesis; the combination of 6% w/v Ficoll 400 and 2 mM DTBA yielded approximately a five-fold increase in overall iSAT protein synthesis activity. By utilizing a fluorescent RNA aptamer, fluorescent reporter proteins and ribosome sedimentation analysis, we showed that crowding agents increase iSAT yields by enhancing translation while reducing agents increase rRNA transcription and ribosome assembly. Finally, we showed that iSAT ribosomes possess ∼70% of the protein synthesis activity of in vivo-assembled E. coli ribosomes. This work improves iSAT protein synthesis through the addition of crowding and reducing agents, provides a thorough understanding of the effect of these additives within the iSAT system and demonstrates how iSAT allows for manipulation and analysis of ribosome biogenesis in the context of an in vitro transcription-translation system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R Fritz
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Osman K Jamil
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Graduate Program, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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43
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Kwon YC, Jewett MC. High-throughput preparation methods of crude extract for robust cell-free protein synthesis. Sci Rep 2015; 5:8663. [PMID: 25727242 PMCID: PMC4345344 DOI: 10.1038/srep08663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Crude extract based cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has emerged as a powerful technology platform for high-throughput protein production and genetic part characterization. Unfortunately, robust preparation of highly active extracts generally requires specialized and costly equipment and can be labor and time intensive. Moreover, cell lysis procedures can be hard to standardize, leading to different extract performance across laboratories. These challenges limit new entrants to the field and new applications, such as comprehensive genome engineering programs to improve extract performance. To address these challenges, we developed a generalizable and easily accessible high-throughput crude extract preparation method for CFPS based on sonication. To validate our approach, we investigated two Escherichia coli strains: BL21 Star™ (DE3) and a K12 MG1655 variant, achieving similar productivity (defined as CFPS yield in g/L) by varying only a few parameters. In addition, we observed identical productivity of cell extracts generated from culture volumes spanning three orders of magnitude (10 mL culture tubes to 10 L fermentation). We anticipate that our rapid and robust extract preparation method will speed-up screening of genomically engineered strains for CFPS applications, make possible highly active extracts from non-model organisms, and promote a more general use of CFPS in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Chan Kwon
- 1] Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA [2] Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Michael C Jewett
- 1] Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA [2] Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA [3] Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA [4] Institute of Bionanotechnology in Medicine Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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44
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Capece MC, Kornberg GL, Petrov A, Puglisi JD. A simple real-time assay for in vitro translation. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2015; 21:296-305. [PMID: 25525154 PMCID: PMC4338355 DOI: 10.1261/rna.047159.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A high-throughput assay for real-time measurement of translation rates in cell-free protein synthesis (SNAP assay) is described. The SNAP assay enables quantitative, real-time measurement of overall translation rates in vitro via the synthesis of O(6)-alkylguanine DNA O(6)-alkyltransferase (SNAP). SNAP production is continuously detected by fluorescence produced by the reaction of SNAP with a range of quenched fluorogenic substrates. The capabilities of the assay are exemplified by measurements of the activities of Escherichia coli MRE600 ribosomes and fluorescently labeled E. coli mutant ribosomes in the PURExpress translation system and by determination of the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of three common macrolide antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark C Capece
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Guy L Kornberg
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Alexey Petrov
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Joseph D Puglisi
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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45
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46
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Li J, Gu L, Aach J, Church GM. Improved cell-free RNA and protein synthesis system. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106232. [PMID: 25180701 PMCID: PMC4152126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free RNA and protein synthesis (CFPS) is becoming increasingly used for protein production as yields increase and costs decrease. Advances in reconstituted CFPS systems such as the Protein synthesis Using Recombinant Elements (PURE) system offer new opportunities to tailor the reactions for specialized applications including in vitro protein evolution, protein microarrays, isotopic labeling, and incorporating unnatural amino acids. In this study, using firefly luciferase synthesis as a reporter system, we improved PURE system productivity up to 5 fold by adding or adjusting a variety of factors that affect transcription and translation, including Elongation factors (EF-Ts, EF-Tu, EF-G, and EF4), ribosome recycling factor (RRF), release factors (RF1, RF2, RF3), chaperones (GroEL/ES), BSA and tRNAs. The work provides a more efficient defined in vitro transcription and translation system and a deeper understanding of the factors that limit the whole system efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Liangcai Gu
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John Aach
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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47
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Hong SH, Ntai I, Haimovich AD, Kelleher NL, Isaacs FJ, Jewett MC. Cell-free protein synthesis from a release factor 1 deficient Escherichia coli activates efficient and multiple site-specific nonstandard amino acid incorporation. ACS Synth Biol 2014; 3:398-409. [PMID: 24328168 PMCID: PMC4065633 DOI: 10.1021/sb400140t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
![]()
Site-specific incorporation of nonstandard
amino acids (NSAAs)
into proteins enables the creation of biopolymers, proteins, and enzymes
with new chemical properties, new structures, and new functions. To
achieve this, amber (TAG codon) suppression has been widely applied.
However, the suppression efficiency is limited due to the competition
with translation termination by release factor 1 (RF1), which leads
to truncated products. Recently, we constructed a genomically recoded Escherichia coli strain lacking RF1 where 13 occurrences
of the amber stop codon have been reassigned to the synonymous TAA
codon (rEc.E13.ΔprfA). Here, we assessed and
characterized cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) in crude S30 cell
lysates derived from this strain. We observed the synthesis of 190
± 20 μg/mL of modified soluble superfolder green fluorescent
protein (sfGFP) containing a single p-propargyloxy-l-phenylalanine (pPaF) or p-acetyl-l-phenylalanine. As compared to the parent rEc.E13 strain with RF1, this results in a modified sfGFP synthesis improvement
of more than 250%. Beyond introducing a single NSAA, we further demonstrated
benefits of CFPS from the RF1-deficient strains for incorporating
pPaF at two- and five-sites per sfGFP protein. Finally, we compared
our crude S30 extract system to the PURE translation system lacking
RF1. We observed that our S30 extract based approach is more cost-effective
and high yielding than the PURE translation system lacking RF1, ∼1000
times on a milligram protein produced/$ basis. Looking forward, using
RF1-deficient strains for extract-based CFPS will aid in the synthesis
of proteins and biopolymers with site-specifically incorporated NSAAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adrian D. Haimovich
- Department
of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States of America
- Systems Biology
Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States of America
| | - Neil L. Kelleher
- Member,
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States of America
| | - Farren J. Isaacs
- Department
of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States of America
- Systems Biology
Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States of America
| | - Michael C. Jewett
- Member,
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States of America
- Institute
of Bionanotechnology in Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States of America
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48
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The dynamics of SecM-induced translational stalling. Cell Rep 2014; 7:1521-1533. [PMID: 24836001 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2014] [Revised: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
SecM is an E. coli secretion monitor capable of stalling translation on the prokaryotic ribosome without cofactors. Biochemical and structural studies have demonstrated that the SecM nascent chain interacts with the 50S subunit exit tunnel to inhibit peptide bond formation. However, the timescales and pathways of stalling on an mRNA remain undefined. To provide a dynamic mechanism for stalling, we directly tracked the dynamics of elongation on ribosomes translating the SecM stall sequence (FSTPVWISQAQGIRAGP) using single-molecule fluorescence techniques. Within 1 min, three peptide-ribosome interactions work cooperatively over the last five codons of the SecM sequence, leading to severely impaired elongation rates beginning from the terminal proline and lasting four codons. Our results suggest that stalling is tightly linked to the dynamics of elongation and underscore the roles that the exit tunnel and nascent chain play in controlling fundamental steps in translation.
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49
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Rosenblum G, Cooperman BS. Engine out of the chassis: cell-free protein synthesis and its uses. FEBS Lett 2013; 588:261-8. [PMID: 24161673 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2013.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Revised: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The translation machinery is the engine of life. Extracting the cytoplasmic milieu from a cell affords a lysate capable of producing proteins in concentrations reaching to tens of micromolar. Such lysates, derivable from a variety of cells, allow the facile addition and subtraction of components that are directly or indirectly related to the translation machinery and/or the over-expressed protein. The flexible nature of such cell-free expression systems, when coupled with high throughput monitoring, can be especially suitable for protein engineering studies, allowing one to bypass multiple steps typically required using conventional in vivo protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Rosenblum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323, United States.
| | - Barry S Cooperman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6323, United States
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50
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Karig DK, Jung SY, Srijanto B, Collier CP, Simpson ML. Probing cell-free gene expression noise in femtoliter volumes. ACS Synth Biol 2013; 2:497-505. [PMID: 23688072 DOI: 10.1021/sb400028c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cell-free systems offer a simplified and flexible context that enables important biological reactions while removing complicating factors such as fitness, division, and mutation that are associated with living cells. However, cell-free expression in unconfined spaces is missing important elements of expression in living cells. In particular, the small volume of living cells can give rise to significant stochastic effects, which are negligible in bulk cell-free reactions. Here, we confine cell-free gene expression reactions to cell-relevant 20 fL volumes (between the volumes of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ), in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) containers. We demonstrate that expression efficiency varies widely among different containers, likely due to non-Poisson distribution of expression machinery at the observed scale. Previously, this phenomenon has been observed only in liposomes. In addition, we analyze gene expression noise. This analysis is facilitated by our use of cell-free systems, which allow the mapping of the measured noise properties to intrinsic noise models. In contrast, previous live cell noise analysis efforts have been complicated by multiple noise sources. Noise analysis reveals signatures of translational bursting, while noise dynamics suggest that overall cell-free expression is limited by a diminishing translation rate. In addition to offering a unique approach to understanding noise in gene circuits, our work contributes to a deeper understanding of the biophysical properties of cell-free expression systems, thus aiding efforts to harness cell-free systems for synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- David K. Karig
- Center
for Nanophase
Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Seung-Yong Jung
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge,
Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Bernadeta Srijanto
- Center
for Nanophase
Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - C. Patrick Collier
- Center
for Nanophase
Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Michael L. Simpson
- Center
for Nanophase
Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Materials
Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2010, United States
- Center for Environmental
Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2010, United States
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