Synthesis of preparative amounts of biologically active interleukin-6 using a continuous-flow cell-free translation system.

Cell-free synthesis of preparative amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a wheat germ extract is described. Following transcription of uncapped mRNA by SP6 polymerase, protein was synthesized in a continuous flow of translation components. The system remained active for at least 50 h, producing 1.25 x 10(6) units of IL-6. Recovered IL-6 was > 80% pure, reacted with anti-IL-6 polyclonal antiserum in Western blots, and had a specific activity comparable to recombinant IL-6 purified from Escherichia coli. This is the first time biologically active IL-6 has been prepared in preparative amounts using a continuous-flow cell-free translation system and confirms the feasibility of using enhanced in vitro translation for rapid synthesis of proteins from cloned templates.