bims-micpro 2022-07-31 papers

Issue of 2022‒07‒31
two papers selected by
Thomas Farid Martínez
University of California, Irvine

Mol Cell. 2022 Jul 21. pii: S1097-2765(22)00653-0. [Epub ahead of print]

Mapping subcellular localizations of unannotated microproteins and alternative proteins with MicroID.

Zhenkun Na, Xiaoyun Dai, Shu-Jian Zheng, Carson J Bryant, Ken H Loh, Haomiao Su, Yang Luo, Amber F Buhagiar, Xiongwen Cao, Susan J Baserga, Sidi Chen, Sarah A Slavoff.

Proteogenomic identification of translated small open reading frames has revealed thousands of previously unannotated, largely uncharacterized microproteins, or polypeptides of less than 100 amino acids, and alternative proteins (alt-proteins) that are co-encoded with canonical proteins and are often larger. The subcellular localizations of microproteins and alt-proteins are generally unknown but can have significant implications for their functions. Proximity biotinylation is an attractive approach to define the protein composition of subcellular compartments in cells and in animals. Here, we developed a high-throughput technology to map unannotated microproteins and alt-proteins to subcellular localizations by proximity biotinylation with TurboID (MicroID). More than 150 microproteins and alt-proteins are associated with subnuclear organelles. One alt-protein, alt-LAMA3, localizes to the nucleolus and functions in pre-rRNA transcription. We applied MicroID in a mouse model, validating expression of a conserved nuclear microprotein, and establishing MicroID for discovery of microproteins and alt-proteins in vivo.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2022.06.035

Nat Commun. 2022 Jul 29. 13(1): 4420

Neprilysins regulate muscle contraction and heart function via cleavage of SERCA-inhibitory micropeptides.

Ronja Schiemann, Annika Buhr, Eva Cordes, Stefan Walter, Jürgen J Heinisch, Paola Ferrero, Hendrik Milting, Achim Paululat, Heiko Meyer.

Muscle contraction depends on strictly controlled Ca2+ transients within myocytes. A major player maintaining these transients is the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase, SERCA. Activity of SERCA is regulated by binding of micropeptides and impaired expression or function of these peptides results in cardiomyopathy. To date, it is not known how homeostasis or turnover of the micropeptides is regulated. Herein, we find that the Drosophila endopeptidase Neprilysin 4 hydrolyzes SERCA-inhibitory Sarcolamban peptides in membranes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, thereby ensuring proper regulation of SERCA. Cleavage is necessary and sufficient to maintain homeostasis and function of the micropeptides. Analyses on human Neprilysin, sarcolipin, and ventricular cardiomyocytes indicates that the regulatory mechanism is evolutionarily conserved. By identifying a neprilysin as essential regulator of SERCA activity and Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, these data contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms that control muscle contraction and heart function in health and disease.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31974-1