Genome-wide characterization of the relationship between essential and TATA-containing genes

► In yeast, essential genes and TATA genes were nearly independent. ► We identified ET genes from the relationship between essential and TATA genes. ► ET genes tended to have relatively high CAI, Fop, EL, degree, and TFBS. ► The amino acid usage patterns of ET, ENT, NET, and NENT genes were different. ► ENT and NET genes showed shared and opposing characteristics. Essential genes are involved in most survival-related housekeeping functions. TATA-containing genes encode proteins involved in various stress–response functions. However, because essential and TATA-containing genes have been researched independently, their relationship remains unclear. The present study classified Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes into four groups: non-essential non-TATA, non-essential TATA, essential non-TATA, and essential TATA genes. The results showed that essential TATA genes have the most significant codon bias, the highest level of expression, and unique characteristics, including a large number of transcription factor binding sites, a higher degree in protein interaction networks, and significantly different amino acid usage patterns compared with the other gene groups. Notably, essential TATA genes were uniquely involved in functions such as unfolded protein binding, glycolysis, and alcohol and steroid-related processes.