The living bioreactor produces a nanofabrication of polymers of the same or varied lengths which are produced as liposomes.  The enzymes in the liposomes are produced in stoichiometric fashion, in a linear array which is precisely defined. The liposomes resist harsh conditions, and if necessary can be isolated easily. The system is especially practical for performing multi- enzymatic pathway processes that allow for efficient localization of intermediates to the next enzyme in the pathway. While the production of proteins as enzymes is a prominent aspect of the invention, the bioreactor would also be useful for preparing peptides, bioactive enzymes, protease-sensitive proteins, vaccines, antibodies and other compounds.

Living bioreactors are powerful systems for producing a variety of valuable compounds. The versatility of such bioreactors is one of the more useful aspects of the system. Large quantities of compounds or cellular components can be produced efficiently, with minimal cost. Alternately, these systems can be used to produce pathway components that are necessary in the production of secondary products. A common problem with such systems is that they are limited by non-uniform production of pathway components, or require an isolation process to ensure the components are in the appropriate quantity and sequence in the process. Inventors at Texas A&M and UC San Francisco have developed a novel technique to address these issues. The technology effectively results in a stoichiometric production of protein components that are produced in an array, ready for secondary production.