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ScienceQuiet 9d · day 11

Salk Institute catalogs 1,067 hidden brain 'microproteins' tied to Alzheimer's

A new atlas of overlooked microproteins in human frontal cortex tissue links one to mitochondrial damage in Alzheimer's-associated immune cells.

newest coverage 8d agosummary written 9d ago11 pieces46 likes & upvotes Google NewsBlueskyNewswires

What to know

  • Salk Institute researchers identified 1,067 previously uncharacterized microproteins in human frontal cortex tissue using AI tool ShortStop applied to existing data from 480 brain samples.
  • Hundreds of these microproteins showed altered — generally higher — expression in Alzheimer's disease samples compared with healthy tissue.
  • One microprotein was linked to mitochondrial impairment in microglia, the brain's immune cells, when its gene was removed, suggesting a possible role in Alzheimer's-related microglial dysfunction.
  • The atlas is presented as a downloadable resource for researchers to investigate microproteins across ageing and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; further research is needed to confirm the microprotein's precise function.

Alan Saghatelian Senior/co-corresponding author, Salk InstituteFrederik Paulsen Co-corresponding author, Salk InstituteSalk Institute research team Study authors

Salk Institute catalogs 1,067 hidden brain 'microproteins' tied to Alzheimer's
drugtargetreview.com

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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  1. background

    Nature News frames the atlas as a new lead on Alzheimer's biology — Nature's news team covered the atlas as a resource that could reshape how researchers investigate Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing the detection of over 1,000 overlooked microproteins altered in the condition.

  2. 3

    Scientists on social media flag the scale of the discovery

    Following coverage of the drugtargetreview.com report, a biologist posted about the surprising number of newly catalogued microproteins and their potential to open new treatment avenues focused on microglia.

    “This is truly surprising: 1,067 microproteins never seen before in the human brain! Hundreds show altered levels in Alzheimer's, often higher.”
    — biologist077.bsky.social
    • biologist077.bsky.social

      This is truly surprising: 1,067 microproteins never seen before in the human brain! Hundreds show altered levels in Alzheimer's, often higher. This could open totally new avenues for treatment, focusing on how these tiny proteins affect brain immune cells like microglia.

      biologist077.bsky.socialBluesky9d ago46▲view on Bluesky ↗
  3. 2

    Study links one microprotein to microglial mitochondrial damage

    Focusing on microglia, the researchers found a microprotein produced instead of a nearby-encoded protein; deleting the responsible gene impaired the cells' mitochondria, suggesting a role in the microglial dysfunction seen in Alzheimer's disease.

    1. 1 outlet Microproteins emerge as potential new Alzheimer’s targets

      first by drugtargetreview.com, 9d ago

  4. 1

    Salk team unveils atlas of 1,067 uncharacterized brain microproteins

    Using existing transcriptomic and mass spectrometry data from 480 human frontal cortex samples plus the AI tool ShortStop, Salk Institute researchers identified 1,067 previously uncharacterized microproteins and found many altered in Alzheimer's disease tissue, generally at higher levels.

    “We still do not fully understand the molecular mechanisms of healthy ageing and that is especially true for microproteins, which have been inadvertently overlooked for decades.”
    — Dr Alan Saghatelian
    1. 2 outlets Map of brain ‘microproteins’ could offer new clues to Alzheimer’s disease

      first by Nature, 8d ago · also Nature News

    2. 2 outlets New Frontal Cortex Microprotein Atlas Informs Alzheimer’s Brain Changes

      first by GenomeWeb, 9d ago · also Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News

      1 more headline
    1 more claim →

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Microproteins provide new playbook for Alzheimer’s research

    first by EurekAlert!, 9d ago · also Medical Xpress

and 2 smaller pieces