https://newatlas.com/computers/cortical-labs-dishbrain-ethics/#:~:text=Cortical Labs is an Australian,learning behaviors by constantly rewiring
Read Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Primer- https://dnadots.minipcr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/DNAdots-Cell-Free-Tech-final_qnoa.pdf by Ally Huang.
Answer following questions:
- What is the advantage of encapsulating cell-free system into a liposome, making a synthetic cell? What is an example of application that you could not do with bulk cell-free system, but it becomes possible if the same translation system is encapsulated inside a membrane
encapsulating a cell-free system into a liposome, protects the mechanisms of the cell-free system within its ‘cellular environment’, which allows for better outcomes in terms of folding of proteins.
- Even though cell-free reactions do not contain cells, they do need to contain several essential components so proteins can still be expressed. List at least 5 biological components that a cell-free reaction needs (either extracted from living cells or supplemented by the scientists).
ATP : for energy,
DNA or mRNA for expressing proteins
Amino Acids
Nucleotides
- What are 2 similarities between the two methods of creating cell-free reactions? What are two differences? What advantages does freeze-drying the cell-free reaction have over just the cell-free reaction alone?
TXTL and PURE
Both require ATP as an energy source, and both require cellular machinery like ribosomes and tRNA
Freeze-drying significantly extend the shelf-life of cell-free systems, being re-constituted by adding water. This allows for its usage in various hostile environments, e.g. warzone, desert, space
- Live cells are able to constantly regenerate the necessary cellular components so they can keep producing proteins without running out of the resources they need. In a cell-free reaction, there are no live cells, so therefore, these reactions can run out of a necessary component. In order to make as much protein as long as possible, what component would you add the most of?
ATP and amino acid monomers/ nucleotides to support protein production