Protein Synthesis in Coupled and Uncoupled Cell-Free Prokaryotic Gene Expression Systems

What is it about?

Protein production from DNA is a widely (mis)understood phenomenon among molecular biologists. A cell generates its currency (proteins) from its genetic material (DNA) via a message (RNA). This process is at times spatially coupled (in case of bacteria) or sometimes not (in the case of eukaryotes). In this study we used a pseudo-bacterial environment (bacterial-cell-free system) to understand this spatial coupling of protein production. In our quest to do so, we unearthed a major factor which hinders protein production in such environments and have proposed several solutions which remove this major hindrance.

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Why is it important?

We hope this study will help shed light on the biophysics of protein production and contribute to the knowledge-pool scientists frequently dip into when trying to mathematically model such reactions.