Micropeptides translated from putative long non-coding RNAs

Long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) transcribed in mammals and eukaryotes were thought to have no protein coding capability. However, recent studies have suggested that plenty of IncRNAs are mis-annotated and virtually contain coding sequences which are translated into bona fide functional peptides by ribosomal machinery, and these functional peptides are called micropeptides or small peptides. Here we review the rapidly advancing field of micropeptides translated from putative IncRNAs, describe the strategies for their identification, and elucidate their critical roles in many fundamental biological processes. We also discuss the prospects of research in micropeptides and the potential applications of micropeptides.