This strain contains the T7 RNA polymerase gene as well as the plasmid pLysE that constitutively expresses T7 lysozyme, a natural inhibitor of T7 RNA Polymerase. This strain is used to minimize basal level expression of potentially toxic gene products before induction with IPTG. When induced with IPTG, the T7 RNA polymerase is produced in excess, overcoming the inhibition of T7 RNA polymerase by T7 lysozyme. The pLysE plasmid provides the highest level of repression of the T7 RNA polymerase prior to induction.