Cell-free synthetic biology: Orchestrating the machinery for biomolecular engineering

Abstract

Due to inherent complexity, incompatibility, and variability in living cell systems, biomolecular engineering faces significant obstacles. To find novel solutions to these issues, researchers have turned to cell-free synthetic biology (CFSB), a relatively young field of study. Biochemical processes can be triggered in vitro through cell-free synthesis, providing a wider range of options for biomolecular engineering. Here, we provide a survey of recent advances in cell-free synthesis. These have sparked innovative studies in areas including the synthesis of complex proteins, incorporation of unnatural amino acids, precise post-translational modifications, high-throughput workflow, and synthetic biomolecular network regulation. CFSB has transformed the studies of biological machinery in a profound and practical way for versatile biomolecular engineering applications.