APL acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation (EF1935265), the National Institutes of Health (R01-EB030031 and R21-AR080363), and the Army Research Office (80523-BB)

The reagents and equipment utilized for this study are provided in the Table of Materials.
1. Bulk CFE reactions in the presence of small unilamellar vesicles (SUVs)
<ol>
	<li>SUV preparation 
	NOTE: This step needs to be performed in a fume hood following the safety instructions for working with chloroform.
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare 5 mM 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) SUVs in a glass vial by transferring 76 &#181;L of 25 mg/mL POPC stoc...

Cell-Free Expression of Membrane Proteins in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

<ol>
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Z., Belardi, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+tissue-scale+properties+with+synthetic+cells:+Forging+one+from+many.">Engineering tissue-scale properties with synthetic cells: Forging one from many.</a> ACS Synth Biol. 12 (7), 1889-1907 (2023).</li><li>Powers, J., Jang, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advancing+biomimetic+functions+of+synthetic+cells+through+compartmentalized+cell-free+protein+synthesis.">Advancing biomimetic functions of synthetic cells through compartmentalized cell-free protein synthesis.</a> Biomacromolecules. 24 (12), 5539-5550 (2023).</li><li>Jiang, W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Artificial+cells:+Past,+present+and+future.">Artificial cells: Past, present and future.</a> ACS Nano. 16 (10), 15705-15733 (2022).</li><li>Groaz, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Engineering+spatiotemporal+organization+and+dynamics+in+synthetic+cells.">Engineering spatiotemporal organization and dynamics in synthetic cells.</a> WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotech. 13 (3), 1685 (2021).</li><li>Sharma, B., Moghimianavval, H., Hwang, S. W., Liu, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthetic+cell+as+a+platform+for+understanding+membrane-membrane+interactions.">Synthetic cell as a platform for understanding membrane-membrane interactions.</a> Membranes. 11 (12), 912 (2021).</li><li>Bashirzadeh, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Actin+crosslinker+competition+and+sorting+drive+emergent+GUV+size-dependent+actin+network+architecture.">Actin crosslinker competition and sorting drive emergent GUV size-dependent actin network architecture.</a> Commun Biol. 4 (1), 1-11 (2021).</li><li>Bashirzadeh, Y., Moghimianavval, H., Liu, A. 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Virtually any cellular process that depends on the transfer of molecules or information across the cell membrane, like cell signaling or cell excitation, requires membrane proteins. Thus, the reconstitution of membrane proteins has become the main bottleneck in realizing various synthetic cell designs for different applications. Traditional detergent-mediated reconstitution of membrane proteins in biological membranes requires GUV generation methods such as gentle swelling or electroformation. Swelling approaches usually...

Bottom-up synthetic biology has gained increasing interest over the past decade as an emerging field with numerous potential applications in bioengineering, drug delivery, and regenerative medicine1,2. The development of synthetic cells as a cornerstone of bottom-up synthetic biology, in particular, has attracted a wide range of scientific communities due to the promising applications of synthetic cells as well as their cell-like physical and biochemical properties that facilitate in vitro biophysical studies3,4,5,6. Synthetic cells are often engineered in cell-sized giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) in which different biological processes are recreated. Reconstitution of cell cytoskeleton7,8, light-dependent energy regeneration9, cellular communication10,11, and biosensing12 are examples of efforts made to reconstruct cell-like behaviors in synthetic cells.
While some cellular processes rely on soluble proteins, many characteristics of natural cells, such as sensing and communication, often utilize membrane proteins, including ion channels, receptors, and transporters. A major challenge in synthetic cell development is the reconstitution of membrane proteins. Although traditional methods of membrane protein reconstitution in lipid bilayers rely on detergent-mediated purification, such methods are laborious, ineffective for proteins that are toxic to the expression host, or are often not suited for membrane protein reconstitution in GUVs13.
An alternative method for protein expression is cell-free expression (CFE) systems. CFE systems have been a powerful tool in synthetic biology that allows in vitro expression of various proteins using either cell lysate or purified transcription-translation machinery14. CFE systems can also be encapsulated in GUVs, thus allowing compartmentalized protein synthesis reactions that can be programmed for various applications, such as the creation of light-harvesting synthetic cells9 or mechanosensitive biosensors15,16. Analogous to recombinant protein expression methods, membrane protein expression is challenging in CFE systems17. Aggregation, misfolding, and lack of post-translational modification in CFE systems are major bottlenecks that hinder successful membrane protein synthesis using CFE systems. The difficulty of bottom-up membrane protein reconstitution using CFE systems is due in part to the absence of a complex membrane protein biogenesis pathway that relies on signal peptides, signal recognition particles, translocons, and chaperoning molecules. However, recently, multiple studies have suggested that the presence of membranous structures such as microsomes or liposomes during translation promotes successful membrane protein expression18,19,20,21. Additionally, Eaglesfield et al. and Steink&#252;her et al. have found that the inclusion of specific hydrophobic domains known as signal peptides in the N-terminus of the membrane protein can significantly improve its expression22,23. Altogether, these studies suggest that the challenge of membrane protein reconstitution in synthetic cells can be overcome if the protein translation occurs in the presence of the GUV membrane and if proper N-terminal signal peptide is utilized.
Here, a protocol for encapsulation of the protein synthesis using recombinant elements (PURE) CFE reactions for membrane protein reconstitution in GUVs is presented. Bacterial glutamate receptor24 (GluR0) is selected as the model membrane protein, and the effect of its N-terminal signal peptide on its membrane reconstitution is studied. The effect of proteorhodopsin signal peptide, which was shown to improve membrane protein reconstitution efficiency by Eaglesfield et al.22, is investigated by constructing a mutated variant of GluR0 denoted as PRSP-GluR0 and its expression and membrane localization with wild-type GluR0 (referred to as WT-GluR0 hereafter) that harbors its native signal peptide is compared. This protocol is based on the inverted emulsion method25 with modifications that make it robust for CFE encapsulation. In the presented method, the CFE reactions are first emulsified using a lipid-in-oil solution that generates micron-sized droplets that contain the CFE system and are stabilized by the lipid monolayer. The emulsion droplets are then layered on top of an oil-water interface that is saturated with another lipid monolayer. The emulsion droplets are then forced to travel across the oil-water interface via centrifugal force. Through this process, the droplets obtain another monolayer, thus generating a bilayer lipid vesicle. The GUVs containing the CFE reaction are then incubated, during which the membrane protein is expressed and incorporated into the GUV membrane. Although this protocol is specified for cell-free expression of GluR0, it can be used for cell-free synthesis of other membrane proteins or different synthetic cell applications such as cytoskeleton reconstitution or membrane fusion studies26.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>100 nm polycarbonate filter</td>
			<td>STERLITECH</td>
			<td>1270193</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96 Well Clear Bottom Plate</td>
			<td>ThermoFisher Scientific</td>
			<td>165305</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BioTek Synergy H1M Hybrid Multi-Mode Reader</td>
			<td>Agilent</td>
			<td>11-120-533</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Creatine phosphate</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>10621714001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CSU-X1 Confocal Scanner Unit</td>
			<td>Yokogawa</td>
			<td>CSU-X1&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Density gradient medium (Optiprep)</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>D1556</td>
			<td>Optional to switch with sucrose in inner solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Filter supports</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>610014</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fisherbrand microtubes (1.5 mL)</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>05-408-129&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Folinic acid calcium salt hydrate</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>F7878</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glucose</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>158968</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>H3375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>iXon X3 camera&#160;</td>
			<td>Andor</td>
			<td>DU-897E-CS0&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>L-Glutamic acid potassium salt monohydrate</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>G1501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Light mineral oil</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>M5904</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Magnesium acetate tetrahydrate&#160;</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>M5661</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mini-extruder kit (including syringe holder and extruder stand)</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>610020</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus IX81 Inverted Microscope&#160;</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>IX21</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Olympus PlanApo N 60x Oil Microscope Objective&#160;</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>1-U2B933&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PEO-b-PBD</td>
			<td>Polymer Source</td>
			<td>P41745-BdEO</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pET28b-PRSP-GluR0-sfGFP plasmid DNA</td>
			<td>Homemade</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pET28b-sfGFP-sfCherry(1-10) plasmid DNA</td>
			<td>Homemade</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>pET28b-WT-GluR0-sfGFP plasmid DNA</td>
			<td>Homemade</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>POPC lipid in chloroform&#160;</td>
			<td>Avanti</td>
			<td>850457C</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>P9541</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PUREfrex 2.0</td>
			<td>Cosmo Bio USA</td>
			<td>GFK-PF201</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ribonucleotide Solution Set</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>N0450</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RNase Inhibitor, Murine</td>
			<td>New England BioLabs</td>
			<td>M0314S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RTS Amino Acid Sampler</td>
			<td>Biotechrabbit</td>
			<td>BR1401801</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>S9888</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Spermidine</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>S2626</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sucrose</td>
			<td>Millipore Sigma</td>
			<td>S0389</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>VAPRO Vapor Pressure Osmometer Model 5600</td>
			<td>ELITechGroup</td>
			<td>VAPRO 5600</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

reconstitution of the bacterial glutamate receptor channel by encapsulation of a cell-free expression system

Cell-free expression (CFE) systems are powerful tools in synthetic biology that allow biomimicry of cellular functions like biosensing and energy regeneration in synthetic cells. Reconstruction of a wide range of cellular processes, however, requires successful reconstitution of membrane proteins into the membrane of synthetic cells. While the expression of soluble proteins is usually successful in common CFE systems, the reconstitution of membrane proteins in lipid bilayers of synthetic cells has proven to be challenging. Here, a method for reconstitution of a model membrane protein, bacterial glutamate receptor (GluR0), in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) as model synthetic cells based on encapsulation and incubation of the CFE reaction inside synthetic cells is demonstrated. Utilizing this platform, the effect of substituting the N-terminal signal peptide of GluR0 with proteorhodopsin signal peptide on successful cotranslational translocation of GluR0 into membranes of hybrid GUVs is demonstrated. This method provides a robust procedure that will allow cell-free reconstitution of various membrane proteins in synthetic cells.

Author Spotlight: Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells

Reconstitution of the Bacterial Glutamate Receptor Channel by Encapsulation of a Cell-Free Expression System

Our protocol addresses the reconstitution of a membrane protein within the lipid bilayer of a synthetic cell made using the inverted droplet emulsion method. The advantage of using the inverted droplet emulsion method is its ability to generate synthetic cells that provide a stable environment for the cell-free expression of membrane proteins. Our protocol offers a robust method for researchers in the field to synthesize membrane proteins inside synthetic cells using cell-free expression system.My lab is working on reconstituting various ion channels in synthetic cells through the reconstitution of the action potential by a well-defined set of ion channels.

Prior to encapsulation of the CFE reactions, two variants of GluR0-sfGFP harboring native and proteorhodopsin signal peptides (signal peptide sequences are presented in Supplementary&#160;Table 1), and the soluble sfGFP were individually expressed in bulk reactions, and their expression was monitored by detecting the sfGFP signal using a plate reader (Figure 2A). Membrane proteins were expressed in the absence or presence of 100 nm SUVs. Additionally, using ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Membrane Protein Reconstitution in Synthetic Cells at JoVE.com

This protocol describes the inverted emulsion method used to encapsulate a cell-free expression (CFE) system within a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) for the investigation of the synthesis and incorporation of a model membrane protein into the lipid bilayer.

Cell-free expression (CFE) systems are powerful tools in synthetic biology that allow biomimicry of cellular functions like biosensing and energy ...

reconstitution-bacterial-glutamate-receptor-channel-encapsulation

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

666 ビュー.  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 私たちのプロトコルは、逆液滴エマルジョン法を使用して作られた合成細胞の脂質二重層内の膜タンパク質の再構成に対処します。逆液滴エマルジョン法の利点は、膜タンパク質を無細胞で発現するための安定した環境を提供する合成細胞を作製できることです。私たちのプロトコールは、この分野の研究者が無細胞発現システムを使用して合成細胞内の膜タンパク質?...

ビデオ: 著者スポットライト:合成細胞における膜タンパク質の再構成

This protocol describes the inverted emulsion method used to encapsulate a cell-free expression (CFE) system within a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) for the investigation of the synthesis and incorporation of a model membrane protein into the lipid...

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construction of out&#45;of&#45;equilibrium metabolic networks in nano&#45; and micrometer&#45;sized vesicles

Author Spotlight: Tackling Challenges in Synthetic Cell Engineering

We present a protocol for reconstituting membrane proteins and encapsulating enzymes and other water-soluble components in lipid vesicles of sub-micrometer and micrometer...

Lipid Vesicle Encapsulation Protocol for Complex Protein Networks

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cell-free protein synthesis system for building synthetic cells

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFPS Systems for Synthetic Cell Construction

This protocol describes the Cell-Free Protein Synthesis (CFPS) system used in constructing synthetic cells. It outlines key stages with representative results in different micro-compartments. The protocol aims to establish best practices for diverse laboratories in the synthetic cell community, advancing progress in synthetic cell...

Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System for Building Synthetic Cells

in situ nucleosome assembly for single-molecule correlative force and fluorescence microscopy

Author Spotlight: Efficient Nucleosome Reconstitution for Single-Molecule Techniques

This article presents a detailed experimental procedure for reconstituting nucleosome-containing DNA tethers for single-molecule correlative force and fluorescence microscopy. It further describes several downstream experiments that can be conducted to visualize the binding behavior of chromatin-interacting proteins and analyze changes in the physical properties of...

In Situ Nucleosome Reconstitution for Single-Molecule Studies

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reconstitution of purified membrane proteins into preformed liposomes

Reconstitution of Purified Membrane Proteins into Preformed Liposomes

in vitro reconstitution of self-organizing protein patterns on supported lipid bilayers

In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers

We provide a protocol for in vitro self-organization assays of MinD and MinE on a supported lipid bilayer in an open chamber. Additionally, we describe how to enclose the assay in lipid-clad PDMS microcompartments to mimic in vivo conditions by reaction...

In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers

imaging atg9a, a multi-spanning membrane protein

Author Spotlight: Imaging ATG9A, a Multi-Spanning Membrane Protein  

This protocol describes various methods that can help in the study of ATG9A biology, including immunofluorescence followed by image analysis, transient overexpression considerations, and investigating the ATG9A glycosylation status using western...

Investigating ATG9A Localization in Cells

preparing protein producing synthetic cells using cell free bacterial extracts, liposomes and emulsion transfer

Preparing Protein Producing Synthetic Cells using Cell Free Bacterial Extracts, Liposomes and Emulsion Transfer

This protocol describes the method, materials, equipment and steps for bottom-up preparation of RNA and protein producing synthetic cells. The inner aqueous compartment of the synthetic cells contained the S30 bacterial lysate encapsulated within a lipid bilayer (i.e., stable liposomes), using a water-in-oil emulsion transfer...

immunometabolic circuits in infection for advancing host directed therapies

Author Spotlight: Leveraging Systems and Synthetic Biology for Innovative Therapies in &lt;i&gt;Leishmania&lt;/i&gt; Major Infection

Here, a protocol for designing, constructing, and delivering tetracycline-controlled based inducible synthetic circuit is presented. The effect of the synthetic circuits on parasite elimination and cytokine expression can be studied by channelizing the presented pipeline. This protocol is relevant for researchers studying synthetic circuit-based therapeutics in infectious...

Designing Tetracycline-Controlled Synthetic Circuits for Leishmaniasis Therapy

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reconstitution of membrane-tethered minimal actin cortices on supported lipid bilayers

Reconstitution of Membrane-Tethered Minimal Actin Cortices on Supported Lipid Bilayers

This protocol describes the formation of supported lipid bilayers and the addition of cytoskeletal filaments and motor proteins to study the dynamics of reconstituted, membrane-tethered cytoskeletal networks using fluorescence...

CFPS Protocols for Micro-Compartmentalized Synthetic Cells

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functional reconstitution and channel activity measurements of purified wildtype and mutant cftr protein

Functional Reconstitution and Channel Activity Measurements of Purified Wildtype and Mutant CFTR Protein

Described here is a rapid and effective procedure for functional reconstitution of purified wild-type and mutant CFTR protein that preserves activity for this chloride channel, which is defective in Cystic Fibrosis. Iodide efflux from reconstituted proteoliposomes mediated by CFTR allows studies of channel activity and the effects of small...

native cell membrane nanoparticles system for membrane protein-protein interaction analysis

Native Cell Membrane Nanoparticles System for Membrane Protein-Protein Interaction Analysis

Presented here is a protocol for the determination of oligomeric state of membrane proteins that utilizes a native cell membrane nanoparticle system in conjunction with electron...

studying membrane protein trafficking in drosophila photoreceptor cells using egfp-tagged proteins

Studying Membrane Protein Trafficking in Drosophila Photoreceptor Cells Using eGFP-Tagged Proteins

Here, non-invasive methods are described for localization of photoreceptor membrane proteins and assessment of retinal degeneration in the Drosophila compound eye using eGFP...

Studying Membrane Protein Trafficking in Drosophila Photoreceptor Cells Using eGFP-Tagged Proteins

membrane-spine: a biochemical tool to identify protein-protein interactions of membrane proteins in vivo

Membrane-SPINE: A Biochemical Tool to Identify Protein-protein Interactions of Membrane Proteins In Vivo

A biochemical approach is described to identify in vivo protein-protein interactions (PPI) of membrane proteins. The method combines protein cross-linking, affinity purification and mass spectrometry, and is adaptable to almost any cell type or organism. With this approach, even the identification of transient PPIs becomes...

Membrane-SPINE: A Biochemical Tool to Identify Protein-protein Interactions of Membrane Proteins In Vivo

detergent-free ultrafast reconstitution of membrane proteins into lipid bilayers using fusogenic complementary-charged proteoliposomes.

Detergent-free Ultrafast Reconstitution of Membrane Proteins into Lipid Bilayers Using Fusogenic Complementary-charged Proteoliposomes.

Here we present two ultrafast protocols for reconstitution of membrane proteins into fusogenic proteoliposomes, and fusion of such proteoliposomes with target lipid bilayers for detergent-free delivery of these membrane proteins into the postfusion bilayer. The combination of these approaches enables fast and easily controlled assembly of complex multi-component membrane...

a thermoplasmonic approach for investigating plasma membrane repair in living cells and model membranes

Author Spotlight: Exploring Plasma Membrane Repair Mechanisms with Innovative Thermoplasmonic Puncturing 

The thermoplasmonic puncture method integrates confocal microscopy, optical tweezers, and gold nanoparticles to study protein responses during plasma membrane repair in cells and giant unilamellar vesicles. The technique enables rapid and localized membrane puncture, allowing the identification of key proteins and their functional roles in the intricate plasma membrane repair...

Laser Induced Thermoplasmonic Puncture for the Study of Plasma Membrane Repair

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methods for embedding cell-free protein synthesis reactions in macro-scale hydrogels

Author Spotlight: A Novel Approach for Embedding Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Reactions in Hydrogels 

Here, we present two protocols for embedding cell-free protein synthesis reactions in macro-scale hydrogel matrices without the need for an external liquid...

Embedding CFPS Reactions in a Variety of Hydrogel Matrices

Imaging ATG9A, a Multi-Spanning Membrane Protein

Bulk Cell-Free Expression Reactions with Small Unilamellar Vesicles (SUVs) for Synthetic Cell Applications

To begin, blow a gentle stream of Argonne into a glass vial containing POPC lipids while gently rotating the vial. When the lipids have dried as a film at the bottom of the vial, loosely cap it, then transfer it to a desiccater. After one hour add 0.5 milliliters of ultrapure deionized water to dissolve the lipid film.Vortex the solution for two minutes. Next, soak two filter supports and deionized water. Place them on each of the internal membrane supports.Then place a 100 nanometer polycarbonate filter between the two internal membrane supports, held together by the extruder outer casing and retainer nut. Place the setup in the extruder stand to finish setting up the mini extrusion apparatus. Next, load the lipid water mix into a one milliliter gast tight syringe.Use swing arm clips to secure the syringe into one end of the mini extruder. Insert the second syringe into the other end of the mini extruder, making sure that it is fully depressed. Now pass the lipid water mix from the original syringe into the empty one through the apparatus.After repeating the extrusion 11 times, transfer the SUVs to a 1.5 milliliter micro centrifuge tube. To assemble the cell-free expression protocol, pipette solutions one to 3 DNA plasmid encoding for soluble SFGFP or variants of glutamate receptor SFGFP, murine RNAse, and SUV solution into a vial. Add ultrapure deionized water to bring the reaction volume to 20 microliters.Transfer the cell-free expression solution to a 96 well conical V bottom plate. Incubate the plate in a plate reader at 37 degrees Celsius for four to five hours. Set up the plate reader with a gain of 100, excitation of 485 nanometers, emission of 528 nanometers, a runtime of five hours, and an interval measurement of one read for every two minutes.Measure the GFP signal every two minutes to monitor the cell-free reaction in real time. Soluble SFGFP had the highest expression among all three proteins.

Cell-Free Reactions in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) for Synthetic Cell Applications

To begin, prepare the GUV outer buffer solution in a 1.5-milliliter microcentrifuge tube. Mixed together spermidine, ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, creatine phosphate, magnesium acetate, potassium glutamate, HEPES, potassium hydroxide, folinic acid. glucose, and amino acid stock.Add ultra purified deionized water to bring the final volume of the solution to one milliliter. Next, in a fume hood, add 17.3 microliters of POPC stock solution to a 15-milliliter glass vial. To this, pipette 1.08 microliters of PEO-b-PBD copolymer.Carefully blow a gentle stream of argon gas into the glass vial while rotating the vial to evaporate the chloroform. Then pipette 1.2 milliliters of light mineral oil into the glass vial. Vortex the lipid and oil at maximum speed for 10 to 20 seconds.Place the glass vial in an oven at around 50 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes before vortexing for an additional 10 to 20 seconds at maximum speed. Next, pipette 270 microliters of the GUV outer solution into a 1.5-milliliter microcentrifuge tube. To this, pipette 15 microliters each of five molar sodium chloride and 4.5 molar potassium chloride.Gently pipette 300 microliters of lipid and oil mixture on top of the GUV outer solution. After incubation, assemble a CFE reaction by pipetting Solutions 1 to 3, DNA plasmid encoding for soluble sfGFP or variants of glutamate receptor sfGFP, murine RNAse, and one molar sucrose into a vial. Add ultrapure deionized water to bring the reaction volume to 20 microliters.Add 600 microliters of the lipid-oil mixture to the microcentrifuge tube containing the 20-microliter reaction mixture. Pipette up and down vigorously for one minute to emulsify the reaction. Gently layer the inner emulsion on top of the oil layer in the tube.Centrifuge for 10 minutes at 2000 g at four degrees Celsius. Next, carefully pipette out the excess oil and outer solution from the microcentrifuge tube. Gently mix the GUV pellet in the remaining solution to resuspend it.Transfer the GUV solution to a clean 96-well clear flat bottom plate for incubation. Transfer the sealed plate into a plate reader to incubate at 37 degrees Celsius for five to six hours. After incubation, place the plate on an inverted confocal microscope.Focus on a region of interest containing the GUVs, then capture the images at an excitation wavelength of 488 nanometers. Save the images in the TIFF format. Open the images in an image processing software.Click on the Brightness/Contrast setting panel to open it. Then adjust the brightness and contrast to make the fluorescent proteins visible. The wild-type glutamate receptor cell-free expression reactions encapsulated in GUV demonstrated excellent expression and membrane localization.PRSP-glutamate receptor was prone to aggregation and punctate formation. The soluble sfGFP was expressed in GUVS and stayed in the GUV lumen.