Metabolic Network Based Gene Essentiality Analysis

Abstract

Essential genes are widely recognized as ideal drug target candidates since their deletion can lead to lethality phenotypes. In most organisms, however, only a small fraction of genes are required for viability while the majority of genes are dispensable. Studies on the cause of the preponderance of dispensable genes revealed some functional backup mechanisms used for non-essential genes, such as genetic buffering by duplicate genes and the presence of alternative pathways. To further enrich our understanding on the cause of gene essentiality/dispensability, it is necessary to explore the altered biological network in response to single/multiple gene deletions and the epistatic interactions between mutants. Understanding the causes and evolution of gene essentiality can also be beneficial to explore more efficient way to identify essential gene.