Detergent-assisted Enhancement of the Translation Rate during Cell-free Synthesis of Peptides in an Escherichia coli Extract

The open nature of cell-free synthesis allows customization of the reaction conditions for given target molecules using diverse biological and non-biological substances. This study demonstrates that non-ionic detergents can be used to enhance translation during the synthesis of peptides in a cell-free system derived from an Escherichia coli extract. The yield of the antimicrobial peptide Cecropin P1 was markedly increased in the presence of detergents. The stimulatory effect of detergents was not limited to the Cecropin P1 peptide, but the detergent also enhanced the translation of other antimicrobial peptides. Furthermore, the enhanced translation rate by detergents was maintained for extended periods by a continuous exchange cell-free synthesis reaction, leading to production of antimicrobial peptides with markedly improved yields.