1. Cell-Free Systems and Their Importance in the Study of Membrane Proteins.
- Author
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González-Ponce KS, Celaya-Herrera S, Mendoza-Acosta MF, and Casados-Vázquez LE
- Abstract
The Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) is an innovative technique used to produce various proteins. It has several advantages, including short expression times, no strain engineering is required, and toxic proteins such as membrane proteins can be produced. However, the most important advantage is that it eliminates the need for a living cell as a production system. Membrane proteins (MPs) are difficult to express in heterologous strains such as Escherichia coli. Modified strains must be used, and sometimes the strain produces them as inclusion bodies, which makes purification difficult. CFPS can avoid the problem of toxicity and, with the use of additives, allows the production of folded and functional membrane proteins. In this review, we focus on describing what cell-free systems are. We address the advantages and disadvantages of the different organisms that can be used to obtain cell extracts, including PURE systems, where the components are obtained recombinantly, and the methodologies that allow the synthesis of membrane proteins in cell-free systems, which, given their hydrophobic nature, require additives for their correct folding., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing Interests: On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest. Ethical Approval: No ethics approval was required for this review that did not involve patients or patient data. Consent for Publication: We have obtained consents to publish this paper from all the participants of this manuscript., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)
- Published
- 2025
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