Optimizing protein production in recombinant E. coli strains involves manipulation of genetic and environmental factors. In designing a production system, attention must be paid to gene expression efficiency, culture conditions and bioreactor configuration. Although not much emphasis was given to the physiology of host strains in this review, an understanding of the relationship between the physiology of host cell growth and the overproduction of a cloned gene protein is of primary importance to the improvement of the recombinant fermentation processes. Sometimes it is desirable to make use of gene fusion systems, e.g. protein A, polypeptide, gutathione-S-transferase, or pneumococcal murein hydrolase fusion, to facilitate protein purification.