title: MicroProteins: small size-big impact.
abstract: MicroProteins (miPs) are short, usually single-domain proteins that, in analogy to miRNAs, heterodimerize with their targets and exert a dominant-negative effect. Recent bioinformatic attempts to identify miPs have resulted in a list of potential miPs, many of which lack the defining characteristics of a miP. In this opinion article, we clearly state the characteristics of a miP as evidenced by known proteins that fit the definition; we explain why modulatory proteins misrepresented as miPs do not qualify as true miPs. We also discuss the evolutionary history of miPs, and how the miP concept can extend beyond transcription factors (TFs) to encompass different non-TF proteins that require dimerization for full function.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tenai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eguen
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Straub
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Moritz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graeff
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: wenkel@plen.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wenkel
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: MicroProteins; dominant-negative effect; modulatory regulation; non-functional complexes; short single domain; transcription factor regulation