Exploring conditional gene essentiality through systems genetics approaches in yeast

An essential gene encodes for a cellular function that is required for viability. Although viability is a straightforward phenotype to analyze in yeast, defining a gene as essential is not always trivial. Gene essentiality has generally been studied in specific laboratory strains and under standard growth conditions, however, essentiality can vary across species, strains, and environments. Recent systematic studies of gene essentiality revealed that two sets of essential genes exist: core essential genes that are always required for viability and conditional essential genes that vary in essentiality in different genetic and environmental contexts. Here, we review recent advances made in the systematic analysis of gene essentiality in yeast and discuss the properties that distinguish core from context-dependent essential genes.

Automated summary

Gene essentiality is crucial for the survival of organisms and can be categorized into core essential genes and conditional essential genes. Core essential genes are always required, while conditional essential genes vary in their essentiality depending on genetic and environmental contexts.