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Coarse-Grained Dynamics of Protein Synthesis in a Cell-Free System

Eyal Karzbrun, Jonghyeon Shin, Roy H. Bar-Ziv, and Vincent Noireaux
Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 048104 – Published 24 January 2011
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Abstract

A complete gene expression reaction is reconstituted in a cell-free system comprising the entire endogenous transcription, translation, as well as mRNA and protein degradation machinery of E. coli. In dissecting the major reaction steps, we derive a coarse-grained enzymatic description of biosynthesis and degradation, from which ten relevant rate constants and concentrations are determined. Governed by zeroth-order degradation, protein expression follows a sharp transition from undetectable levels to constant-rate accumulation, without reaching steady state.

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  • Received 10 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.048104

© 2011 American Physical Society

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Breaking down complexity

Published 24 January 2011

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Authors & Affiliations

Eyal Karzbrun1, Jonghyeon Shin2, Roy H. Bar-Ziv1, and Vincent Noireaux2

  • 1Department of Materials and Interfaces, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
  • 2Department of Physics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, USA

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Issue

Vol. 106, Iss. 4 — 28 January 2011

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