Impact of Reducing Agents on Protein Synthesis in a Reconstituted Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System

TL;DR

This study explores how reducing agents affect protein synthesis in a lab-based system and offers a method to maintain stable conditions for better protein quality.

Contribution

A method to maintain reducing conditions in cell-free protein synthesis, improving protein quality and consistency.

Findings

Dithiothreitol's reducing activity decreases over time due to dissolved oxygen and metal ions.

Disulfide bonds form in synthesized proteins when reducing agents lose activity.

A new method was developed to maintain consistent reducing conditions during reactions.

Abstract

Maintaining proper redox conditions is essential for
protein stability
and function. In cell-free protein synthesis, reducing agents, such
as dithiothreitol and reduced glutathione, are commonly added to mimic
the cytosolic environment and prevent unwanted oxidation. The PURE
system, which is a fully reconstituted protein synthesis system, also
contains reducing agents. Here, we systematically examined how reducing
agents affect the protein synthesis in the PURE system. We found that
the reducing activity of dithiothreitol decreased during prolonged
reactions, leading to the formation of disulfide bonds in synthesized
proteins. Dissolved oxygen and contaminating metal ions were identified
as major factors causing this loss of activity. Based on these findings,
we developed a method to maintain reducing conditions throughout the
reaction, ensuring consistent protein quality. Our results provide
new insights into redox regulation in cell-free systems and offer
a practical strategy for the efficient synthesis of functional proteins,
with potential applications in biotechnology and therapeutic protein
production.

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