Cell-free system

A cell-free system is a widely-used in vitro tool used to study biological reactions that happen within a cell with less of the complex interactions found in a whole cell.

Subcellular fractions can be isolated by ultracentrifugation, providing molecular machinery that can be used in reactions with the absence of many cellular components.

Cell-free system containing dextran sucrase could be used for production of dextran which is used to prevent thrombo-embolic disease in high risk surgical patients.