Codes for a Mitochondrial Peptide Linking Respiration and Lipid Metabolism

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2019 Feb 24

PMID 30796188

Citations 53

Authors

Anastasia Chugunova

Elizaveta Loseva

Pavel Mazin

Aleksandra Mitina

Tsimafei Navalayeu

Dmitry Bilan

Polina Vishnyakova

Maria Marey

Anna Golovina

Marina Serebryakova

Philipp Pletnev

Maria Rubtsova

Waltraud Mair

Anna Vanyushkina

Philipp Khaitovich

Vsevolod Belousov

Mikhail Vysokikh

Petr Sergiev

Olga Dontsova

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Genes coding for small peptides have been frequently misannotated as long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) genes. Here we have demonstrated that one such transcript is translated into a 56-amino-acid-long peptide conserved in chordates, corroborating the work published while this manuscript was under review. The Mtln peptide could be detected in mitochondria of mouse cell lines and tissues. In line with its mitochondrial localization, lack of the Mtln decreases the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. Unlike the integral components and assembly factors of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, Mtln does not alter its enzymatic activity directly. Interaction of Mtln with NADH-dependent cytochrome b5 reductase stimulates complex I functioning most likely by providing a favorable lipid composition of the membrane. Study of Mtln illuminates the importance of small peptides, whose genes might frequently be misannotated as lncRNAs, for the control of vitally important cellular processes.

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