Essential genes of a minimal bacterium.
Mycoplasma genitalium has the smallest genome of any organism that can be grown in pure culture. It has a minimal metabolism and little genomic redundancy. Consequently, its genome is expected to be a close approximation to the minimal set of genes needed to sustain bacterial life. Using global transposon mutagenesis, we isolated and characterized gene disruption mutants for 100 different nonessential protein-coding genes. None of the 43 RNA-coding genes were disrupted. Herein, we identify 382 of the 482 M. genitalium protein-coding genes as essential, plus five sets of disrupted genes that encode proteins with potentially redundant essential functions, such as phosphate transport. Genes encoding proteins of unknown function constitute 28% of the essential protein-coding genes set. Disruption of some genes accelerated M. genitalium growth.
Glass
John I
JI
Synthetic Biology Group, J. Craig Venter Institute, 9704 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Assad-Garcia
Nacyra
N
Alperovich
Nina
N
Yooseph
Shibu
S
Lewis
Matthew R
MR
Maruf
Mahir
M
Hutchison
Clyde A
CA
Smith
Hamilton O
HO
Venter
J Craig
JC
D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D020043:Genes, Essential / Q000235:genetics*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D045704:Mycoplasma genitalium / Q000235:genetics*