Exploring the Potential of Cell-Free Protein Synthesis for Extending the Abilities of Biological Systems

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a simple, rapid and sensitive tool that is devoid of membrane-bound barriers, yet contains all the mandatory substrates, biomolecules and machineries required for the synthesis of the desired proteins. It has the potential to overcome loopholes in the current in vivo production systems and is a promising tool in both basic and applied scientific research. It facilitates a simplified organization of desired experiments with a variety of reaction conditions, making CFPS a powerful tool in biological research. It has been established for the expansion of genetic code, assembly of viruses, and in metabolic engineering for production of toxic and complex proteins. Subsequently, CFPS systems have emerged as potent technology for high-throughput production of membrane proteins, enzymes and therapeutics. The present review highlights the recent advances and uses of CFPS systems in biomedical, therapeutic and biotechnological applications. Additionally, we highlight potential biosafety issues and its possible solution that could arise while using CFPS technology.