What are Cell-Free Systems?
Cell-free systems are powerful tools in synthetic biology that enable protein synthesis outside the walls of living cells. These systems typically consist of cell extracts containing the necessary machinery for transcription and translation (TX-TL), along with energy sources, substrates and other essential components (Perez et al., 2016). The solution that provides the fuel needed to drive TX-TL reactions, is commonly referred to as the 'energy buffer', 'energy solution', or 'energy mix'.
Cell-free systems have gained popularity for their open nature and versatility in applications ranging from studying artificial gene circuits, to producing proteins, and facilitating the creation of biosensors.
Advantages of Cell-Free Systems
Compared to living cells, cell-free systems offer multiple advantages for protein synthesis (Zamella et al., 2015):
- Elimination of cellular toxicity: Some biomolecules, when overexpressed, can be toxic to living cells, inhibiting growth or causing cell death.
- Rapid prototyping: The speed of cell-free systems enables faster testing and optimization of genetic constructs and circuits.
- Greater flexibility and on-demand control: The open nature of cell-free systems allows easy manipulation of reaction conditions and the addition of components.
Current Limitations of Cell-Free Systems
Unfortunately, cell-free systems face several challenges that limit their widespread adoption, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Expensive reagents are required for their use, and specialized equipment is needed for distribution and storage (Guzman-Chavez et al., 2022).
High Cost of Reagents
The high cost of reagents - in particular, the energy buffer, and specialized equipment required for the preparation, use and storage of cell lysate pose a significant barrier to access.
Difficult Storage Conditions
Conventional cell lysate, and the energy buffer both need to be transported on dry ice, and then stored in a -80 degree celsius fridge, meaning that cold chains are required at every step of the process.
Our Solution: Bluebear Extract
Our desiccated cell lysate - "Bluebear Extract" - addresses the above challenges with two innovative solutions:
Incorporation of Mighty Water Bear Proteins
By integrating tardigrade proteins into our lysate, we harness their remarkable lyoprotectant properties, enabling it to thrive in a wide range of conditions, eliminating cold chains, and -80 degree freezers.
Optimization of Energy Solution
The Bluebear Optimized Energy Solution provides the necessary energy sources for efficient cell-free reactions, but at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional buffers, successfully overcoming the cost barrier.
For more details, head to our project description!
