I have cloned my gene in pET28(a) vector and transformed the recombinant plasmid into E. coli BL21 (DE3) and also in E. coli JM109 (DE3). I have checked the putativeness of the clones to be positive by restriction digestion. 

Now, I am trying to check the over-expession of the gene by induction with IPTG. My gene codes for a large protein of around 86 kDa.

For small scale protein synthesis, I induced the transformed E. coli BL21 (DE3) and E. coli JM109 (DE3) with 0.1mM IPTG and incubated at 18 degree C and 200 rpm for 18 hours. I took 1ml of the induced culture, pelletted the cells by spinning it at 10,000 rpm for 1 minute, aspirated the supernatant and resuspended the pellet in 100ul 5X gel loading dye followed by heating it at 100 degree C for 3 minutes, stored it at 4 degree C till loading on 10% SDS-PAGE gel. On running the PAGE, and after staining and destaining the gel, there were no over-expression in the induced cells.

The same steps were repeated by inducing the fresh 50 ml with 0.1mM IPTG at 37 degree C for 6 hours. Same result was observed.

What should be the possible reasons for no over-expression? Is it because of issues with in-frame cloning, and therefore no translation? How to check whether the cloning is in-frame or not? kindly suggest..

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