Synthelis - Biotech blog

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanostructures consisting of assembled virus proteins that lack viral genetic material and, therefore, are non-infectious. Their interest relies in the possibility of using them to carry and deliver drugs, vaccines or imaging substances.

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) methodology offers the possibility to produce proteins that would be difficult or even impossible to synthesize in cell-based systems. These so-called “difficult-to-express proteins” include membrane proteins, but also cytotoxic proteins (toxic cancer therapeutics, antimicrobial peptides/proteins and toxins), vaccines, antibodies and proteins containing non-standard amino acids [1]. Cell-free systems are, also, advantageous for the synthesis of proteins with biased coding sequences or with defined post-translational modifications, for the ones that require chaperones or specific chemical environments and even for the synthesis of virus-like particles and bacteriophages.

Synthelis' cell-free liposome-based expression system was applied in the development of an OprF vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The complete OprF outer membrane protein of P. aeruginosa was used as the immunogen and was expressed in its native form in liposomes.

The S-protein receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 has been the subject of a thorough characterization and its importance in virus infection is well known. The potential uses of RBD of S-protein as a vaccine and as an antigen for the specific and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are herein reviewed.  

Proteoliposomes – ideal model systems to study the structure and function of membrane proteins in semi-native environment by cryogenic electron microscopy

Isotope labelling has been used for over 40 years to facilitate the study of protein structure using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. During that time, traditional expression systems such as in vivo protein synthesis were the preferred options for fabricating the labelled proteins. However, nearly a decade ago, it was discovered that cell-free protein expression offers an abundance of beneficial properties making it more adapted to the addition of isotopes than first thought. Here, we give you our top five reasons to use a cell-free system to label your proteins for your NMR study…

Cell-free systems are mainly used for in-vitro protein synthesis and can be considered as a powerful tool in genetic code reprogramming, involving the amber codon. In this use, the non-proteinogenic amino-acids are incorporated into proteins by charging them to suppressor-tRNAs molecules that reprogram the existing codons. However, cell-free systems are also used to engineer genetic circuits with applications for in-vitro biology or metabolic engineering.

Synthelis will attend the 3rd edition of the “Colloque POLEPHARMA Bioproduction” which takes place in Tours, December 20^th.

In protein manufacturing, membrane proteins are well known to be challenging to produce in a functional form. SYNTHELIS’ patented cell-free technology allows customized expression and characterization of active proteins integrated in proteoliposomes. Membrane proteins are embedded directly into liposomes during the cell-free synthesis process allowing the proper folding of the protein. Following protein production, SYNTHELIS conducts quality controls to validate the target protein in terms of activity and structure.