title: Genome replication, synthesis, and assembly of the bacteriophage T7 in a single cell-free reaction.
abstract: The synthesis of living entities in the laboratory is a standing challenge that calls for innovative approaches. Using a cell-free transcription-translation system as a molecular programming platform, we show that the bacteriophage T7, encoded by a 40 kbp DNA program composed of about 60 genes, can be entirely synthesized from its genomic DNA in a test tube reaction. More than a billion infectious bacteriophages T7 per milliliter of reaction are produced after a few hours of incubation. The replication of the genomic DNA occurs concurrently with phage gene expression, protein synthesis, and viral assembly. The demonstration that genome-sized viral DNA can be expressed in a test tube, recapitulating the entire chain of information processing including the replication of the DNA instructions, opens new possibilities to program and to study complex biochemical systems in vitro.
authors: Jonghyeon
authors: J
authors: Shin
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Jardine
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Noireaux
mesh_terms: D017123:Bacteriophage T7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004261:DNA Replication; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D005814:Genes, Viral
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral