Publications

Papers, protocols, and scholarly work from the Oza Lab community.

Full list on Google Scholar

2026

Modular Cell-Free Extract Mixing Enables Soluble, Active Biomanufacturing of Difficult-to-Express and Aggregation-Prone Proteins

L. Firmansyah, A. Delmundo, and J. P. Oza. bioRxiv preprint. doi:10.64898/2026.10.09.757855

Graphical abstract: an extract library grown in autoinduction media, a mix-and-match extract strategy optimized by design of experiments, and the structure and activity of colicin M and vtPA. — Graphical abstract · Preprint

Research Project Compass: A Visual Framework for Strategic Research Planning

J. Oza. OSF Preprints.

Research Project Compass: a tangle of project files and ideas flowing into a structured canvas with six boxes labeled Problem, Claim, Value, Execution, Strategy and Risk, and Validation. — Illustration · Preprint

2024

Cell-Free Gene Expression

P. E. J. Smith, J. L. Dopp, N. F. Reuel, and J. P. Oza. Handbook of Molecular Biotechnology, pp. 221–236.

Circular diagram linking cell-free expression systems from E. coli, wheat germ, Chinese hamster ovary, HeLa, rabbit reticulocyte, Spodoptera frugiperda and Saccharomyces cerevisiae to applications such as high-throughput screening, toxic proteins, therapeutics and vaccines, membrane proteins, metabolic engineering, education, and sensors. — Chapter figure · Paper

2023

Development of Solid-State Storage for Cell-Free Expression Systems

A. W. Brookwell, J. L. Gonzalez, A. W. Martinez, and J. P. Oza. ACS Synthetic Biology 12(9), 2561–2577.

Solid-state storage workflow for cell-free expression, from formulation to storage and applications. — Graphical abstract · Publisher

Established and Emerging Methods for Protecting Linear DNA in Cell-Free Expression Systems

T. J. Fochtman and J. P. Oza. Methods and Protocols 6(2), 36.

Workflow comparison: a linear DNA template reaches cell-free protein synthesis in about 3 hours, while the plasmid route through cloning, cell growth and plasmid preparation takes about 3 days. — Figure 1 · Paper

2022

Characterizing and Improving pET Vectors for Cell-Free Expression

K. Jew, P. E. J. Smith, B. So, J. Kasman, J. P. Oza, and M. W. Black. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 10, 895069.

Five sfGFP expression cassettes, labeled A to E: pJL1-sfGFP and four pET30 variants that differ in the lacO operator and the His and S tags, each with a T7 promoter, Strep tag and T7 terminator. — Figure 1 · Paper

Development of Next-Generation Diagnostic Tools Using Synthetic Biology

E. J. Vojvoda, L. R. Burrington, and J. P. Oza. In New Frontiers and Applications of Synthetic Biology, pp. 287–330.

Four CRISPR detection systems, Cas9, Cas12, Cas14 and Cas13, each pairing a guide RNA with its DNA or RNA target to produce a fluorescent signal output. — Chapter figure · Paper

Simple Extract Preparation Methods for E. coli-Based Cell-Free Expression

A. C. Mullin, T. Slouka, and J. P. Oza. Methods in Molecular Biology 2433, 51–64.

Cell-free expression overview: cellular machinery, a DNA template and a mix of cofactors and substrates combine in a tube to produce green fluorescent protein. — Illustration · Paper

2021

Biotechnology Applications of Cell-Free Expression Systems

A. Brookwell, J. P. Oza, and F. Caschera. Life 11(12), 1367.

Hexagon diagram with cell-free protein synthesis at the center, surrounded by its applications: metabolic engineering, optimizing production, biomanufacturing, biomolecule discovery, prototyping, and biosensors and genetic circuits. — Graphical abstract · Paper

A Manipulative Activity for Exploring Effective Nuclear Charge (Z_eff)

J. Kasman, T. Slouka, A. Kiste, and J. P. Oza. ChemRxiv preprint.

Two matched models of effective nuclear charge: an atom whose outermost electron is attracted by the nucleus and repelled by inner electrons, and a magnet with stacked washers that mimics the same forces. — Graphical abstract · Paper

From Cells to Cell-Free Protein Synthesis within 24 Hours Using Cell-Free Autoinduction Workflow

P. E. J. Smith, T. Slouka, M. Dabbas, and J. P. Oza. Journal of Visualized Experiments, e62866.

The 2022 erratum is folded into this record rather than listed twice.

Image neededGraphical abstract not located.

Characterizing and Improving Reaction Times for E. coli-Based Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

L. R. Burrington, K. R. Watts, and J. P. Oza. ACS Synthetic Biology 10(8), 1821–1829.

Graphical abstract showing additives used to optimize cell-free protein synthesis reaction times. — Graphical abstract · Publisher

The Fold-Illuminator: A Low-Cost, Portable, and Disposable Incubator-Illuminator Device

L. R. Burrington, E. Baryal, K. Hui, E. Lambert, S. T. Harding, and J. P. Oza. Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology 6(2), 95–101.

Rendering of the Fold-Illuminator, a compact gray incubator-illuminator box with two windowed compartments, one fitted with an amber filter. — Design illustration · Paper

2020

Activation of Energy Metabolism through Growth Media Reformulation Enables a 24-Hour Workflow for Cell-Free Expression

M. Z. Levine, B. So, A. C. Mullin, R. Fanter, K. Dillard, K. R. Watts, M. R. La Frano, and J. P. Oza. ACS Synthetic Biology 9(10), 2765–2774.

Graphical abstract of the 24-hour cell-free expression workflow and metabolism analysis. — Graphical abstract · Publisher

The Genetic Code Kit: An Open-Source Cell-Free Platform for Biochemical and Biotechnology Education

L. C. Williams, N. E. Gregorio, B. So, W. Y. Kao, A. L. Kiste, P. A. Patel, K. R. Watts, et al. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 8, 941.

Traditional learning with biochemistry textbooks and a codon-matching activity, contrasted with next-generation hands-on work using fluorescent protein tubes, a protein structure and lab pipettes. — Figure 1 · Paper

Unlocking Applications of Cell-Free Biotechnology through Enhanced Shelf Life and Productivity of E. coli Extracts

N. E. Gregorio, W. Y. Kao, L. C. Williams, C. M. Hight, P. Patel, K. R. Watts, and J. P. Oza. ACS Synthetic Biology 9(4), 766–778.

Graphical abstract of improved cell-free extract shelf life and productivity. — Graphical abstract · Publisher

2015

Robust Production of Recombinant Phosphoproteins Using Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

J. P. Oza, H. R. Aerni, N. L. Pirman, K. W. Barber, C. M. ter Haar, S. Rogulina, M. B. Amrofell, F. J. Isaacs, J. Rinehart, and M. C. Jewett. Nature Communications 6, 8168.

Image neededGraphical abstract to be added.

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