Due to time constraints, I can’t seem to keep the secondary culture for 16 hr incubation (after induction) at any time so, I’m thinking of delaying inoculation with the primary culture. Is this even possible or correct to do?
First of all, I am not sure how your culture will respond. Nevertheless, I think that the answer to your question will depend upon a few considerations. That is, 1) How quickly can you cool down the culture, 2) what is the stage of growth of the primary culture and 3) what is the protein that is being overexpressed and how does this affect the metabolism of the E. coli strain.