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Updated: Oct 14, 2025
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De novo Identification of Actively Translated Open Reading Frames with Ribosome Profiling Data
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APPLE and translation: When a small peptideproduced from a "non-coding RNA" matters!
Swati Mohapatra1, George A Calin2
1Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Molecular Cell
|November 5, 2021
Summary
Researchers discovered a new translation initiation mechanism involving APPLE, a peptide regulator from non-coding RNA in acute myeloid leukemia. This finding offers novel strategies for targeting cancer cell translation machinery.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- RNA Biology
Background:
- Translation initiation is a critical regulatory step in gene expression.
- Aberrant translation contributes to cancer development and progression.
- Non-coding RNAs are increasingly recognized for their roles in cellular regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel mechanisms regulating translation initiation.
- To investigate the role of small peptides derived from non-coding RNAs in cancer.
- To explore new therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of non-coding RNA transcripts in acute myeloid leukemia cells.
- Identification and characterization of small peptide regulators.
- Investigating the function of the identified peptide in translation initiation.
Main Results:
- A novel translation initiation regulator, named APPLE (a small peptide from a non-coding RNA transcript), was identified.
- APPLE plays a significant role in mediating translation initiation in acute myeloid leukemia.
- This discovery provides a new target within the cancer cell's translation machinery.
Conclusions:
- APPLE represents a novel class of translation regulators.
- Targeting APPLE offers a potential therapeutic strategy for acute myeloid leukemia.
- This work expands our understanding of non-coding RNA functions in cancer.
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