Short open reading frames (sORFs) and microproteins: an update on their identification and validation measures
Alyssa Zi-Xin Leong1, Pey Yee Lee1, M Aiman Mohtar1
1UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute (UMBI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Journal of Biomedical Science
|March 18, 2022
Summary
Short open reading frames (sORFs) encode microproteins. Recent multi-omics advances enable their identification, validation, and functional characterization, advancing microproteomics research.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Proteomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Short open reading frames (sORFs) were historically overlooked by genome annotation.
- Ribosome profiling (RIBO-Seq) revealed the coding potential of sORFs, detecting sORF-based transcripts.
- Experimental evidence for stable, functional microproteins was initially limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the emerging field of sORFs and microproteins.
- To discuss bioinformatics and multi-omics approaches for their identification and characterization.
- To highlight challenges and solutions in validating sORFs and microproteins.
Main Methods:
- Ribosome profiling (RIBO-Seq) for detecting sORF transcripts.
- Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics for sequencing microproteins.
- CRISPR/Cas9 screens and protein-protein interaction (PPI) studies for functional characterization.
Main Results:
- Multi-omics advancements facilitate the identification and validation of sORFs and microproteins.
- Various techniques are available for predicting, sequencing, and characterizing these entities.
- Functional roles of microproteins are increasingly being validated.
Conclusions:
- The field of sORFs and microproteins is rapidly advancing.
- Integrated multi-omics strategies are crucial for comprehensive analysis.
- Validated microprotein functions will shape the future of microproteomics.
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