Micropeptide Prediction

Micropeptide Prediction: Unlocking the Hidden Proteome with Ribosome Profiling

The cellular proteome is more complex than previously imagined, and micropeptides—proteins less than 100 amino acids in length—are emerging as critical players in cellular biology. These small, often overlooked proteins are encoded by non-canonical open reading frames (ORFs), including upstream ORFs (uORFs) and alternative ORFs, making their discovery challenging with traditional techniques. Despite their size, micropeptides have been shown to regulate processes such as cell signalling, metabolism, and stress responses.

EIRNA Bio’s ribosome profiling service offers an advanced solution for micropeptide discovery and functional characterisation. By capturing ribosome-bound mRNA fragments, this approach provides a comprehensive view of translation across the transcriptome, revealing previously unannotated coding regions and enabling researchers to delve into the unexplored regions of the proteome.

Applications of Ribosome Profiling for Micropeptide Prediction

1. Discovery of Novel Micropeptides

Micropeptides often arise from non-canonical ORFs, which can be difficult to detect using conventional annotation methods. Ribosome profiling provides the resolution needed to identify these regions by capturing ribosome activity at single-nucleotide precision.

Detecting Non-Canonical ORFs: Ribosome profiling identifies translation initiation sites outside traditional coding regions, uncovering hidden sources of micropeptide synthesis.
Genome-Wide Insights: By providing a global view of active translation, EIRNA Bio’s profiling service enables the systematic identification of micropeptide-coding regions across the transcriptome.

2. Characterising Micropeptide Functions

Despite their small size, micropeptides can play outsized roles in cellular regulation, often interacting with larger proteins or nucleic acids. Ribosome profiling enables researchers to study the functional implications of micropeptide expression by:

Identifying translation dynamics under different experimental conditions.
Mapping changes in micropeptide synthesis in response to cellular stress or disease states.

This information provides insights into the regulatory roles of micropeptides in processes such as metabolism, immune responses, and intracellular signalling.

3. Investigating Micropeptides in Disease Mechanisms

Aberrant micropeptide expression has been implicated in diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. By profiling micropeptide translation in disease models, researchers can identify novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets.

Cancer Research: Micropeptides derived from alternative ORFs may drive oncogenic pathways or modulate tumour suppressor activity.
Neurobiology: Dysregulated micropeptide expression in neurons could contribute to synaptic dysfunction or protein aggregation.

EIRNA Bio’s ribosome profiling service supports these investigations by offering high-quality, reproducible data for translation studies.

4. Optimising Micropeptide-Based Therapeutics

As the therapeutic potential of micropeptides becomes evident, ribosome profiling plays a vital role in their discovery. By precisely mapping translation initiation sites and codon usage, researchers can optimise the production and stability of micropeptide-based drugs.

Synthetic Biology: Ribosome profiling helps design gene constructs to maximise micropeptide yield.
Drug Development: Profiling ensures that micropeptide-based therapeutics are produced efficiently and with minimal off-target effects.

EIRNA Bio’s Approach to Micropeptide Prediction

High-Quality Data for Micropeptide Discovery

The detection and analysis of micropeptides require accurate and high-resolution data. EIRNA Bio’s ribosome profiling protocols are tailored to preserve the integrity of ribosome-protected fragments, ensuring reliable detection of small ORFs. Rigorous quality control measures, such as triplet periodicity analysis, confirm the translation of putative micropeptide-coding regions.

Advanced Bioinformatics with EIRNA Bio-Connect

EIRNA Bio-Connect provides researchers with the tools needed to analyse micropeptide translation, including:

ORF Detection: Automated identification of non-canonical ORFs based on ribosome occupancy.
Differential Expression Analysis: Quantify micropeptide synthesis under varying conditions.
Codon-Level Insights: Explore translation dynamics at the single-codon resolution.

The platform’s interactive visualisation capabilities allow researchers to dynamically explore their data, facilitating the identification and characterisation of micropeptides.

Collaborative Project Design and Support

EIRNA Bio’s team works closely with clients to design experiments tailored to their specific research goals. Whether the focus is on discovering novel micropeptides, exploring their roles in disease, or developing therapeutic applications, EIRNA Bio provides the expertise and support needed for impactful research.

Why Choose EIRNA Bio for Micropeptide Prediction?

Micropeptides represent a frontier in translational biology, offering untapped opportunities for discovery and application. EIRNA Bio’s ribosome profiling service provides the tools, expertise, and bioinformatics support needed to unlock this hidden proteome.