Sino Biological, Inc. (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 301047.SZ) has announced that its gene synthesis and cell-free protein expression workflow supported a recent study by Tencent AI for Life Sciences Lab, published in Nature Communications. The workflow enabled rapid experimental validation of AI-designed proteins with improved activity, stability, and multifunctionality.
Artificial intelligence has accelerated protein amino acid sequence design, but translating computational designs into functional proteins remains challenging. Protein activity, stability, folding, and expression depend on complex structural and biochemical factors, often causing discrepancies between in silico predictions and experimental outcomes. To address this, the study introduced an Ontology Reinforcement Iteration (ORI) framework that integrates protein ontology with reinforcement learning from wet-lab feedback. Experimental data, including protein expression levels and functional activity, were continuously fed back into the model, enabling iterative optimization of protein sequences and improved design accuracy.
Researchers utilized Sino Biological’s XPressMAX™ Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Kit to enable rapid protein expression and functional screening. Protein-coding sequences cloned into the kit’s expression vector and added to the proprietary cell-free reaction system supported rapid design–build–test cycles. Using this workflow, the team engineered a lysozyme with over 100-fold higher activity than the natural enzyme, developed a thermostable chitinase retaining activity at 85°C, and successfully expressed bifunctional enzymes with improved performance compared with naturally occurring multifunctional enzymes.
Key features of the XPressMAX™ Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Kit include ultra-fast synthesis in as little as 3 hours, high screening efficiency for VHH, scFv, and miniproteins, flexible template support for plasmid and linear DNA templates, disulfide bond friendliness without additional enhancers, cost-effective performance, and scalable supply for high-throughput and industrial applications.
Sino Biological is an international reagent supplier and CRO service provider specializing in recombinant protein production and antibody development. With the US-based Center for Bioprocessing (C4B) in Houston and SignalChem Biotech in Canada, the company delivers tailored, localized solutions worldwide. Serving researchers in over 90 countries, Sino Biological maintains a stringent quality management system across all products.
This study underscores the potential of combining AI-driven protein design with cell-free expression systems to accelerate the development of novel enzymes with superior properties, opening new avenues for industrial and therapeutic applications.
