An estimation of minimal genome size required for life

FEBS Letters

Itaya, Mitsuhiro¹ 

[1] Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, 11-Minamiooya, Machida-shi, Tokyo 194, Japan

关键词: Minimal genome;    Indispensable gene;    Mutagenesis;    Dispensable gene;    Colony formation;    Nutrition;   

DOI  :  10.1016/0014-5793(95)00233-Y

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

The number of indispensable chromosomal loci for a bacterium, Bacillus subtilis was estimated. Seventy-nine randomly selected chromosomal loci were investigated by mutagenesis. Mutation at only six loci rendered B. subtilis unable to form colonies. In contrast, mutants for the rest of the 73 loci retained the ability to form colonies. Mutant B. subtilis with multiple-fold mutations of those dispensable loci (7-, 12- or 33-fold) were not impaired in their ability to form colonies on nutritionally adequate medium, indicating that up to 33 dispensable loci were simultaneously abolished. Given the statistical analyses for the frequency of indispensable loci (6 out of 79), total indispensable genetic material would be included within about 562 kbp. The hypothetical minimum genome size lies in the range of those currently determined smallest genomes for bacteria.

【 授权许可】

Unknown