On-demand biomanufacturing has the potential to improve healthcare and self-sufficiency during space missions. Cell-free transcription and translation reactions combined with DNA blueprints can produce promising therapeutics like bacteriophages and virus-like particles. However, how space conditions affect the synthesis and self-assembly of such complex multi-protein structures is unknown. Here, we characterize the cell-free production of infectious bacteriophage T7 virions under simulated microgravity. Rotation in a 2D-clinostat increased the number of infectious particles compared to static controls. Quantitative analyses by mass spectrometry, immuno-dot-blot and real-time PCR showed no significant differences in protein and DNA contents, suggesting enhanced self-assembly of T7 phages in simulated microgravity. While the effects of genuine space conditions on the cell-free synthesis and assembly of bacteriophages remain to be investigated, our findings support the vision of a cell-free synthesis-enabled “astropharmacy”.

按需生物制造有潜力改善太空任务期间的医疗保健和自给自足。无细胞转录和翻译反应与 DNA 蓝图相结合可以产生有前途的治疗药物，如噬菌体和病毒样颗粒。然而，空间条件如何影响这种复杂的多蛋白质结构的合成和自组装尚不清楚。在这里，我们描述了在模拟微重力下感染性噬菌体 T7 病毒粒子的无细胞生产。与静态对照相比，2D 回转器中的旋转增加了感染性颗粒的数量。通过质谱、免疫斑点印迹和实时 PCR 进行的定量分析显示蛋白质和 DNA 含量没有显着差异，表明 T7 噬菌体在模拟微重力下的自组装增强。虽然真正的太空条件对噬菌体无细胞合成和组装的影响仍有待研究，但我们的研究结果支持了无细胞合成“天体药学”的愿景。