The Journal of Clinical Investigation (May 2022)

Mitochondria-derived peptides in aging and healthspan

  • Brendan Miller,
  • Su-Jeong Kim,
  • Hiroshi Kumagai,
  • Kelvin Yen,
  • Pinchas Cohen

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 132, no. 9

Abstract

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The mechanisms that explain mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and healthspan continue to be studied, but one element has been unexplored: microproteins. Small open reading frames in circular mitochondria DNA can encode multiple microproteins, called mitochondria-derived peptides (MDPs). Currently, eight MDPs have been published: humanin, MOTS-c, and SHLPs 1–6. This Review describes recent advances in microprotein discovery with a focus on MDPs. It discusses what is currently known about MDPs in aging and how this new understanding could add to the way we understand age-related diseases including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases at the genomic, proteomic, and drug-development levels.