title: Expressible molecular colonies.
abstract: Carrying out polymerase chain reaction in a gel layer generates a 2-D pattern of DNA colonies comprising pure genetic clones. Here we demonstrate that transcription, translation and protein folding can be performed in the same gel. The resulting nucleoprotein colonies mimic living cells by serving as compartments in which the synthesized RNAs and proteins co-localize with their templates. Yet, due to the absence of penetration barriers, such a molecular colony display allows cloned genes to be directly tested for the encoded functions. Now, the results imply that virtually any manipulations with genes and their expression products can be accomplished in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region 142290, Russia.
authors.forename: Timur R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Samatov
authors.forename: Helena V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chetverina
authors.forename: Alexander B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Chetverin
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D017510:Protein Folding; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; C016680:polyacrylamide gels