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PMID: 15353568 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Determination of the core of a minimal bacterial gene set.

Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR ·Vol. 68 ·No. 3 ·2004-09-00 ·Pages 518-37, table of contents

Gil R, Silva FJ, Peretó J, Moya A

Abstract

The availability of a large number of complete genome sequences raises the question of how many genes are essential for cellular life. Trying to reconstruct the core of the protein-coding gene set for a hypothetical minimal bacterial cell, we have performed a computational comparative analysis of eight bacterial genomes. Six of the analyzed genomes are very small due to a dramatic genome size reduction process, while the other two, corresponding to free-living relatives, are larger. The available data from several systematic experimental approaches to define all the essential genes in some completely sequenced bacterial genomes were also considered, and a reconstruction of a minimal metabolic machinery necessary to sustain life was carried out. The proposed minimal genome contains 206 protein-coding genes with all the genetic information necessary for self-maintenance and reproduction in the presence of a full complement of essential nutrients and in the absence of environmental stress. The main features of such a minimal gene set, as well as the metabolic functions that must be present in the hypothetical minimal cell, are discussed.

MeSH Terms
Bacteria/genetics,growth & development,metabolism Bacterial Proteins/genetics,metabolism Computational Biology Genes, Bacterial Genome, Bacterial
Chemicals
Bacterial Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
4 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Gil Rosario
Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Apartat Oficial 2085, 46071 València, Spain. [email protected]
Silva Francisco J
Peretó Juli
Moya Andrés
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Article Info
Journal
Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR
Abbr.
Microbiol Mol Biol Rev
ISSN
1092-2172
DOI
10.1128/MMBR.68.3.518-537.2004
Email
[email protected]
Published
2004-09-00
Pages
518-37, table of contents
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
9706653
PMCID
PMC515251
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.68.3.518-537.2004 PMC Full Text View journal details
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