Thousands of Previously Uncatalogued Micropeptides Given Formal Name 'Peptideins' and Added to Major Databases

An effort announced today in Nature gives thousands of molecules encoded by the human genome an official new name — peptideins — and marks their inclusion in major gene and protein databases used by the life-sciences community. The human genome contains around 20,000 genes that hold instructions for making working proteins according to current estimates.

These proteins and the genes that encode them have been excluded from databases of known human genes and proteins.

The code for these proteins was excluded from official genome and protein counts. @Nature reported that some scientists have long suspected there might be thousands more 'dark proteins' with unknown but potentially important roles in cells. Researchers say the rebranding will bring much-needed attention and effort to working out what peptideins do in cells.

Some peptideins have been implicated in diseases including childhood cancers as well as in basic cellular functions. The inclusion in major gene and protein databases is expected to accelerate research into the newly named molecules.

“'Dark proteins' hiding in our cells could hold clues to cancer and other diseases.”

“— @Nature reported The human genome contains around 20,000 genes that hold instructions for making working proteins according to current estimates. However, the code for these proteins was excluded from official genome and protein counts, leaving peptideins outside standard tallies used by scientists worldwide.”