Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.11.010
Kelvin Yen, Brendan Miller, Hiroshi Kumagai, Ana Silverstein, Pinchas Cohen
{"title":"Mitochondrial-derived microproteins: from discovery to function.","authors":"Kelvin Yen, Brendan Miller, Hiroshi Kumagai, Ana Silverstein, Pinchas Cohen","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.11.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.11.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Given the uniqueness of the mitochondria, and the fact that they have their own genome, mitochondrial-derived microproteins (MDPs) are similar to, but different from, nuclear-encoded microproteins. The discovery of an increasing number of microproteins from this organelle and the importance of mitochondria to cellular and organismal health make it a priority to study this novel class of proteins in search of possible therapeutic targets and cures. In this review, we discuss the history of MDP discovery, describe the function of each MDP, and conclude with future goals and techniques to help discover more MDPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"132-145"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-10-14DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.004
Louise Petri, Anne Van Humbeeck, Huanying Niu, Casper Ter Waarbeek, Ashleigh Edwards, Maurizio Junior Chiurazzi, Ylenia Vittozzi, Stephan Wenkel
{"title":"Exploring the world of small proteins in plant biology and bioengineering.","authors":"Louise Petri, Anne Van Humbeeck, Huanying Niu, Casper Ter Waarbeek, Ashleigh Edwards, Maurizio Junior Chiurazzi, Ylenia Vittozzi, Stephan Wenkel","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small proteins are ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. MicroProteins, initially characterized as small proteins with protein interaction domains that enable them to interact with larger multidomain proteins, frequently modulate the function of these proteins. The study of these small proteins has contributed to a greater comprehension of protein regulation. In addition to sequence homology, sequence-divergent small proteins have the potential to function as microProtein mimics, binding to structurally related proteins. Moreover, a multitude of other small proteins encoded by short open reading frames (sORFs) and peptides, derived from diverse sources such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and miRNAs, contribute to a variety of biological processes. The potential of small proteins is evident, offering promising avenues for bioengineering that could revolutionize crop performance and reduce reliance on agrochemicals in future agriculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"170-180"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142481007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.001
Sikandar Azam, Feiyue Yang, Xuebing Wu
{"title":"Finding functional microproteins.","authors":"Sikandar Azam, Feiyue Yang, Xuebing Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genome-wide translational profiling has uncovered the synthesis in human cells of thousands of microproteins, a class of proteins traditionally overlooked in functional studies. Although an increasing number of these microproteins have been found to play critical roles in cellular processes, the functional relevance of the majority remains poorly understood. Studying these low-abundance, often unstable proteins is further complicated by the challenge of disentangling their functions from the noncoding roles of the associated DNA, RNA, and the act of translation. This review highlights recent advances in functional genomics that have led to the discovery of >1000 human microproteins required for optimal cell proliferation. Ongoing technological innovations will continue to clarify the roles and mechanisms of microproteins in both normal physiology and disease, potentially opening new avenues for therapeutic exploration.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"107-118"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142928770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sebastian Ocklenburg, Annakarina Mundorf, Jutta Peterburs, Silvia Paracchini
{"title":"Genetics of human handedness: microtubules and beyond.","authors":"Sebastian Ocklenburg, Annakarina Mundorf, Jutta Peterburs, Silvia Paracchini","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tig.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Handedness (i.e., the preference to use either the left or the right hand for fine motor tasks) is a widely investigated trait. Handedness heritability is consistently estimated to be 25%. After decades of research, recent large-scale genome-wide association and exome sequencing studies have identified multiple genes associated with handedness and highlighted tubulin genes. Tubulin genes play a role in several processes during brain development that may be relevant for handedness ontogenesis, including axon guidance, axon growth, and forming the inner structure of motile cilia. Moreover, tubulin genes are associated with several psychiatric disorders. This finding therefore may offer insights into biological pathways mediating the link between handedness, brain asymmetries, and psychiatric traits.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143082328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.10.012
Casimiro Baena-Angulo, Ana Isabel Platero, Juan Pablo Couso
{"title":"Cis to trans: small ORF functions emerging through evolution.","authors":"Casimiro Baena-Angulo, Ana Isabel Platero, Juan Pablo Couso","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.10.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.10.012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hundreds of thousands of small open reading frames (smORFs) of less than 100 codons exist in every genome, especially in long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and in the 5' leaders of mRNAs. smORFs are often discarded as nonfunctional, but ribosomal profiling (RiboSeq) reveals that thousands are translated, while characterised smORF functions have risen from anecdotal to identifiable trends: smORFs can either have a cis-noncoding regulatory function (involving low translation of nonfunctional peptides) or full coding function mediated by robustly translated peptides, often having cellular and physiological roles as membrane-associated regulators of canonical proteins. The evolutionary context reveals that many smORFs represent new genes emerging de novo from noncoding sequences. We suggest a mechanism for this process, where cis-noncoding smORF functions provide niches for the subsequent evolution of full peptide functions.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"119-131"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142741061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.004
Benjamin Galeota-Sprung, Ami S Bhatt, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
{"title":"Microproteins: emerging roles as antibiotics.","authors":"Benjamin Galeota-Sprung, Ami S Bhatt, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent advances in computational prediction and experimental techniques have detected previously unknown microproteins, particularly in the human microbiome. These small proteins, produced by diverse microbial species, are emerging as promising candidates for new antibiotics.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"104-106"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142985302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-10-09DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.003
Eralda Kina, Jean-David Larouche, Pierre Thibault, Claude Perreault
{"title":"The cryptic immunopeptidome in health and disease.","authors":"Eralda Kina, Jean-David Larouche, Pierre Thibault, Claude Perreault","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Peptides presented by MHC proteins regulate all aspects of T cell biology. These MHC-associated peptides (MAPs) form what is known as the immunopeptidome and their comprehensive analysis has catalyzed the burgeoning field of immunopeptidomics. Advances in mass spectrometry (MS) and next-generation sequencing have facilitated significant breakthroughs in this area, some of which are highlighted in this article on the cryptic immunopeptidome. Here, 'cryptic' refers to peptides and proteins encoded by noncanonical open reading frames (ORFs). Cryptic MAPs derive mainly from short unstable proteins found in normal, infected, and neoplastic cells. Cryptic MAPs show minimal overlap with cryptic proteins found in whole-cell extracts. In many cancer types, most cancer-specific MAPs are cryptic.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"162-169"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142401991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.010
Gregory Tong, Thomas F Martinez
{"title":"Ribosome profiling reveals hidden world of small proteins.","authors":"Gregory Tong, Thomas F Martinez","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.12.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of ribosome profiling (Ribo-seq) by Ingolia et al. introduced a powerful new method for monitoring translation genome-wide. Application of Ribo-seq across multiple organisms has since revealed thousands of unannotated translated small open reading frames (ORFs) and enhanced efforts to study their encoded proteins, called microproteins.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"101-103"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143016597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-10-07DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.002
Damon A Hofman, John R Prensner, Sebastiaan van Heesch
{"title":"Microproteins in cancer: identification, biological functions, and clinical implications.","authors":"Damon A Hofman, John R Prensner, Sebastiaan van Heesch","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2024.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer continues to be a major global health challenge, accounting for 10 million deaths annually worldwide. Since the inception of genome-wide cancer sequencing studies 20 years ago, a core set of ~700 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes has become the basis for cancer research. However, this research has been based largely on an understanding that the human genome encodes ~19 500 protein-coding genes. Complementing this genomic landscape, recent advances have described numerous microproteins which are now poised to redefine our understanding of oncogenic processes and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention. This review explores the emerging evidence for microprotein involvement in cancer mechanisms and discusses potential therapeutic applications, with an emphasis on highlighting recent advances in the field.</p>","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"146-161"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142395250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in GeneticsPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-16DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2025.01.002
Maria A Smit
{"title":"Fun-sized and fundamental.","authors":"Maria A Smit","doi":"10.1016/j.tig.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tig.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54413,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Genetics","volume":" ","pages":"99-100"},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143016596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}