This strain provides high levels of protein expression. This strain carries the lambda DE3 lysogen, which expresses T7 RNA polymerase from the lacUV5 promoter by IPTG induction. The mutated rne gene (ren131) encodes a truncated RNaseE enzyme that lacks the ability to degrade mRNA, resulting in an increase in mRNA stability. The transformation efficiency of BL-21 is usually low, so the 6 minute / heat shock cold plating protocol is recommend if high efficiency is desired.