How to pronounce“microprotein”in English

Microproteins glom onto bigger proteins and change how they work, so they’re named after a class of RNA that does something similar with other RNA.

While microproteins can occur in the nuclear genome too, this one is mitochondria-centric.

The gene codes for a microprotein called SHMOOSE that’s involved in energy metabolism in the brain.

One of the advantages of microproteins being so small is they can potentially be administered by injection.

And SHMOOSE, the microprotein in this study, seems to hang out in the inner membrane of the mitochondria of neurons, altering energy metabolism in the brain.

Instead, they’re called microproteins because of their functional similarity to another tiny molecule: microRNA.

In the meantime, SHMOOSE represents a great opportunity to learn more about Alzheimer’s, as well as microproteins, how they work, and the role they play in diseases in general.