Cell-free gene expression (CFE) is a revolutionary technique for synthesizing proteins without involving actual cells. Moreover, it is a powerful tool for molecular biology and biotechnology research. While cell-free biology has been present for half a century and has been extensively used in the activation of biological processes, cell-free gene expression provides better tools for protein synthesis.
Cell-free gene expression harnesses the transcription and translation machinery of living cells to enable protein synthesis through the expression of natural or synthetic DNA. Moreover, the technique can also be used to produce large quantities of recombinant proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies, which are difficult to make using traditional techniques like bacterial fermentation.
Furthermore, cell-free gene expression also presents many benefits over other methods, including more efficient production of active enzymes; no risk from contamination with pathogens; and low-cost equipment that does not require expensive autoclaves or sterile storage conditions.
Cell-free gene expression present innumerable advantages
- More efficient production of active enzymes
- No risk from contamination with pathogens
- Low-cost equipment that does not require expensive autoclaves or sterile storage conditions
- Cell-free gene expression provides a much better tool for recombinant protein production, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and molecular biology applications.
Working Mechanism of Cell-Free Gene Expression
Cell-free transcription extracts mRNA from cells or tissues, while cell-free translation uses an appropriate cell-free extract to synthesize proteins in vitro via the means of complementary DNA (cDNA) templates. Cell-free gene expression makes it possible for the large scale production of recombinant proteins. Traditional techniques like bacterial fermentation provide too low a yield, therefore CFE offers a much better alternative.
With its many advantages over traditional methods, cell-free gene expression has become an essential technique in these fields. Thanks to cell-free gene expression, researchers can now obtain what they need faster, easier, and more affordably than ever before.
