Incompatibility of DFHBI based fluorescent RNA aptamers with particular commercial cell-free expression systems

Fluorescent RNA aptamers are an increasingly used tool for quantifying transcription and for visualising RNA interactions, both in vitro and in vivo. However when tested in the commercially available, E. coli extract based Expressway™ cell-free expression system, no fluorescence is detected. The same experimental setup is shown to successfully produce fluorescent RNA aptamers when tested in another buffer designed for in vitro transcription, and RNA purification of the Expressway™ reaction products show that transcription does occur, but does not result in a fluorescent product. In this paper we demonstrate the incompatibility of a narrow selection of RNA aptamers in one particular cell-free expression system, and consider that similar issues may arise with other cell-free expression systems, RNA aptamers, and their corresponding fluorophores.

Cell-free expression of the outer membrane protein OprF of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for vaccine purposes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the second-leading cause of nosocomial infections and pneumonia in hospitals. Because of its extraordinary capacity for developing resistance to antibiotics, treating infections by Pseudomonas is becoming a challenge, lengthening hospital stays, and increasing medical costs and mortality. The outer membrane protein OprF is a well-conserved and immunogenic porin playing an important role in quorum sensing and in biofilm formation. Here, we used a bacterial cell-free expression system to reconstitute OprF under its native forms in liposomes and we demonstrated that the resulting OprF proteoliposomes can be used as a fully functional recombinant vaccine against P. aeruginosa. Remarkably, we showed that our system promotes the folding of OprF into its active open oligomerized state as well as the formation of mega-pores. Our approach thus represents an easy and efficient way for producing bacterial membrane antigens exposing native epitopes for vaccine purposes.

A Methylation-Directed, Synthetic Pap Switch Based on Self-Complementary Regulatory DNA in an All-E. Coli Cell-Free Expression System

<p>Pyelonephritis-associated pili (pap) enable migration of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain (UPEC) through the urinary tract. UPEC can switch between a stable 'ON phase' where the corresponding pap genes are expressed and a stable 'OFF phase' where their transcription is repressed. Hereditary, alternate DNA methylation of only two GATC motives within the regulatory region stabilizes the respective phase over many generations. The underlying molecular mechanism is only partly understood. Previous investigations suggest that in vivo phase-variation stability results from cooperative action of the transcriptional regulators Lrp and PapI. Here, we use an E. coli cell-free expression system to study the function of pap regulatory region based on a specially designed, synthetic construct flanked by two reporter genes encoding fluorescent proteins for simple readout. Based on our observations we suggest that Lrp and the conformation of the self-complementary regulatory DNA play a strong role in the regulation of phase-variation. Our work not only contributes to better understand the phase variation mechanism, but it represents a successful start for engineering stable, hereditary and strong expression control based on methylation.</p>

A Methylation-Directed, Synthetic Pap Switch Based on Self-Complementary Regulatory DNA in an All-E. Coli Cell-Free Expression System

<p>Pyelonephritis-associated pili (pap) enable migration of the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain (UPEC) through the urinary tract. UPEC can switch between a stable 'ON phase' where the corresponding pap genes are expressed and a stable 'OFF phase' where their transcription is repressed. Hereditary, alternate DNA methylation of only two GATC motives within the regulatory region stabilizes the respective phase over many generations. The underlying molecular mechanism is only partly understood. Previous investigations suggest that in vivo phase-variation stability results from cooperative action of the transcriptional regulators Lrp and PapI. Here, we use an E. coli cell-free expression system to study the function of pap regulatory region based on a specially designed, synthetic construct flanked by two reporter genes encoding fluorescent proteins for simple readout. Based on our observations we suggest that Lrp and the conformation of the self-complementary regulatory DNA play a strong role in the regulation of phase-variation. Our work not only contributes to better understand the phase variation mechanism, but it represents a successful start for engineering stable, hereditary and strong expression control based on methylation.</p>

Cell-free expression of RNA encoded genes using MS2 replicase

RNA replicases catalyse transcription and replication of viral RNA genomes. Of particular interest for in vitro studies are phage replicases due to their small number of host factors required for activity and their ability to initiate replication in the absence of any primers. However, the requirements for template recognition by most phage replicases are still only poorly understood. Here, we show that the active replicase of the archetypical RNA phage MS2 can be produced in a recombinant cell-free expression system. We find that the 3′ terminal fusion of antisense RNAs with a domain derived from the reverse complement of the wild type MS2 genome generates efficient templates for transcription by the MS2 replicase. The new system enables DNA-independent gene expression both in batch reactions and in microcompartments. Finally, we demonstrate that MS2-based RNA-dependent transcription-translation reactions can be used to control DNA-dependent gene expression by encoding a viral DNA-dependent RNA polymerase on a MS2 RNA template. Our study sheds light on the template requirements of the MS2 replicase and paves the way for new in vitro applications including the design of genetic circuits combining both DNA- and RNA-encoded systems.