Small protein plays with big networks

Thousands of small proteins, called microproteins, are encoded in small open reading frames (smORFs) throughout the genome. Despite assumptions that these proteins would be too small to properly fold and function, a recent study by Chen et al. identifies the surprisingly complex roles of one such microprotein. Thousands of small proteins, called microproteins, are encoded in small open reading frames (smORFs) throughout the genome. Despite assumptions that these proteins would be too small to properly fold and function, a recent study by Chen et al. identifies the surprisingly complex roles of one such microprotein.