E. coli Cloning Strains for Molecular Biology: What They Are and Why They Matter

by Pallabi Roy Chakravarty, Ph.D.

IPTG Induction vs Auto-Induction
IPTG and auto-induction are two ways to induce protein expression in bacteria. They work similarly, but have different trade-offs in terms of convenience. While IPTG...
Optimizing Protein Expression with IPTG Induction
The final concentration of IPTG used for induction varies from 0.1 to 1.0 mM, with 0.5 or 1.0 mM most frequently used. For proteins with...
What Is a His-Tag?
A His-tag is a stretch of 6-10 histidine amino acids in a row that is used for affinity purification, protein detection, and biochemical assays. His-tags...
How Long Do Competent Cells Last?
Competent cells such as DH5a, DH10B, and BL21 will maintain their transformation efficiency for at least a year with proper storage. It is important to...