Synthetic Lethality

A genetic interaction is inferred when mutations or deletions in separate genes, each of which alone causes a minimal phenotype, result in lethality when combined in the same cell under a given condition.

Publication

Gene essentiality and synthetic lethality in haploid human cells.

Blomen VA, Majek P, Jae LT, Bigenzahn JW, Nieuwenhuis J, Staring J, Sacco R, van Diemen FR, Olk N, Stukalov A, Marceau C, Janssen H, Carette JE, Bennett KL, Colinge J, Superti-Furga G, Brummelkamp TR

Although the genes essential for life have been identified in less complex model organisms, their elucidation in human cells has been hindered by technical barriers. We used extensive mutagenesis in haploid human cells to identify approximately 2000 genes required for optimal fitness under culture conditions. To study the principles of genetic interactions in human cells, we created a synthetic lethality ... [more]

Science Nov. 27, 2015; 350(6264);1092-6 [Pubmed: 26472760]

Throughput

  • Low Throughput

Ontology Terms

  • phenotype: growth abnormality (HP:0001507)

Additional Notes

  • Aphenotypic negative genetic interaction (Synonym: Synthetic)
  • The authors note that their method cannot clearly distinguish between synthetic lethal or synthetic sick interactions (Figure 3B).

Related interactions

InteractionExperimental Evidence CodeDatasetThroughputScoreCurated ByNotes
RAB1A TRAPPC2L
Positive Genetic
Positive Genetic

Mutations/deletions in separate genes, each of which alone causes a minimal phenotype, but when combined in the same cell results in a less severe fitness defect than expected under a given condition. This term is reserved for high or low throughput studies with scores.

High2.85BioGRID
2539509

Curated By

  • BioGRID