Are housekeeping genes in E. coli essential.

Question

[Researcher]

Hi,

I thought that the housekeeping genes that are used for MLST typing of E. coli are essential. But, I found that it is not the case. For example, the icd gene in E. Coli is a housekeeping gene used for MLST typing, but it is not essential. How is this possible?

Best, Negin

Answer 1

[Istvan Albert]

Both terms "essential" and "housekeeping" are a bit nebulously defined.

Housekeeping (HK) genes are best defined as genes whose expressions are the same regardless of tissue, development stage, external environment, etc. But these genes could have functionalities that overlap with other HK or non-HK genes.

Essential genes are necessary for the organism to grow and reproduce, there is no implied statement on the expression level of the gene.