Cell-free synthesis of functional proteins using transcription/translation machinery entrapped in silica sol-gel matrix.
Herewith we report the encapsulation of functional protein synthesis machinery in a silica sol-gel matrix. When the sol-gel reaction using alkoxysilane monomers was carried out in the presence of Escherichia coli cell extract, macromolecular protein synthesis machinery in the cell extract was successfully immobilized within a silica gel matrix, catalyzing the translation of co-immobilized DNA when supplied with small-molecular-weight substrates for protein synthesis. The efficiency of protein synthesis was affected by the pore size of the gel structure, which was controlled through the use of appropriate additives during the sol-gel reactions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the reproduction of the entire set of complicated biological process within an inorganic gel matrix, and we expect that the developed technology will find many applications in numerous fields such as high-throughput gene expression and the development of multifunctional biosensors.
Kim
Kyeong-Ohn
KO
Department of Fine Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
Lim
Seong Yoon
SY
Hahn
Geun-Hee
GH
Lee
Sahng Ha
SH
Park
Chan Beum
CB
Kim
Dong-Myung
DM
D004926:Escherichia coli; D005782:Gels; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D005782:Gels; D012822:Silicon Dioxide