A Cost-Effective <i>Pichia pastoris</i> Cell-Free System Driven by Glycolytic Intermediates Enables the Production of Complex Eukaryotic Proteins

Cell-free systems are particularly attractive for screening applications and the production of difficult-to-express proteins. However, the production of cell lysates is difficult to implement on a larger scale due to large time requirements, cultivation costs, and the supplementation of cell-free re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jeffrey L. Schloßhauer, Srujan Kumar Dondapati, Stefan Kubick, Anne Zemella
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-01-01
Series:Bioengineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/11/1/92
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Summary:Cell-free systems are particularly attractive for screening applications and the production of difficult-to-express proteins. However, the production of cell lysates is difficult to implement on a larger scale due to large time requirements, cultivation costs, and the supplementation of cell-free reactions with energy regeneration systems. Consequently, the methylotrophic yeast <i>Pichia pastoris</i>, which is widely used in recombinant protein production, was utilized in the present study to realize cell-free synthesis in a cost-effective manner. Sensitive disruption conditions were evaluated, and appropriate signal sequences for translocation into ER vesicles were identified. An alternative energy regeneration system based on fructose-1,6-bisphosphate was developed and a ~2-fold increase in protein production was observed. Using a statistical experiment design, the optimal composition of the cell-free reaction milieu was determined. Moreover, functional ion channels could be produced, and a G-protein-coupled receptor was site-specifically modified using the novel cell-free system. Finally, the established <i>P. pastoris</i> cell-free protein production system can economically produce complex proteins for biotechnological applications in a short time.
ISSN:2306-5354