Thomas Martinez
University of California-Irvine, CA·Biochemistry
Even after the human genome was sequenced, thousands of protein-coding genes went unnoticed. Many are microproteins, proteins shorter than about 100–150 amino acids that are made from small open reading frames (smORFs), short stretches of genetic code that can be read into protein.
- Fields
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Genetics
- Topics
microproteins
small open reading frames
smORFs
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Aug 2030
What they work on
- Select curated sets of disordered microproteins whose short linear motifs (SLiMs) match those in proteins for signaling, RNA metabolism or cell organization, to predict likely functions.
- Identify protein binding partners of these microproteins using high-throughput screens and chemical tools.
- Validate each microprotein–protein interaction and determine how the microprotein regulates its partner's activity.
- Define which cellular process each validated microprotein acts on, uncovering new functional microproteins from small open reading frames (smORFs).
More about the research
The team's earlier work found thousands of these unannotated microproteins in RNA regions thought to be non-coding. These include long non-coding RNAs and the untranslated regions (UTRs) at the ends of messenger RNAs. A few microproteins regulate DNA repair, RNA metabolism, stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and protein synthesis, but most have no known function.
Why it matters
Assigning functions to thousands of overlooked human microproteins could reveal new regulators of genome stability, protein synthesis and metabolism. Such regulators could advance understanding of health and disease and could eventually point to new therapeutic approaches.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Shahar Sukenik
Syracuse University, NY·Biophysics
Determine when the structural preferences of disordered regions in transcription factors affect their function, by linking ensemble structure to transcriptional activity in live cells.
Hannah Shorrock
University at Albany, NY·Genetics·Early-career
Measure how much of the human genome can undergo multi-frame translation (MFT), using a new reporter system that detects protein made in several reading frames, in a genome-wide screen.
Katerina Cermakova
Baylor College of Medicine, TX·Biochemistry
Determine how chromatin and transcription state influence RNA export of highly transcribed genes, by rapidly manipulating the IDR-domain interaction in living cells and measuring nascent RNA and genomic outcomes.
The school
University of California-Irvine: 46 labs on PI Pages, $645M a year on research, 524 research doctorates a year.
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