Abstract: The present invention provides a method of synthesizing a fluorescently labeled protein in a cell free protein synthesis system, comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a sample of ribosomes obtained from a cell-free extract with plasmid DNA containing a coding sequence for a protein of interest, said sample incubated in a coupled transcription/translation medium together with a aminoacyl tRNA having fluorescent label; (b) partially purifying said fluorescently labeled protein by separating newly synthesized, fluorescently-labeled protein from other fluorescent components within said sample; (c) measuring the amount of protein synthesized; (d) determining fluorescence of newly synthesized protein; and (e) determining the biological activity of the newly synthesized protein.