Functional annotation of unknown genes in the JCVI-syn3.0 minimal genome

Determine the molecular functions of the 149 genes of unknown function in the synthetic minimal cell JCVI-syn3.0, thereby clarifying essential cellular processes in a minimal genome.

Background

To estimate protocell complexity, the paper references JCVI-syn3.0, a synthetic minimal cell derived from Mycoplasma mycoides with 473 genes. Despite its reduced genome, a substantial fraction of genes remain functionally uncharacterized, highlighting gaps in our understanding of minimal cellular requirements.

Resolving the functions of these genes is crucial for defining the lower bounds of biological complexity and for refining algorithmic estimates of cellular information content.

References

Remarkably, 149 of these genes still have unknown function—underscoring how much we have yet to understand, even in minimal life.

— The unreasonable likelihood of being: origin of life, terraforming, and AI (2507.18545 - Endres, 24 Jul 2025) in Section “Information content of a protocell”