Small Functional ORFs Detection

Transcriptomics studies have recently revealed pervasive microbial transcription, finding dozens of small RNAs (sRNAs) with unknown function in each species examined. Although they are often assumed to be noncoding, we have shown that bacterial sRNAs code for a large number of unannotated small functional proteins. Over a wide phylogenetic range, we have predicted over a dozen new coding sRNA ORFs per species, and backed up these predictions with experimental data from ribosome profiling and mass spectrometry. These new small proteins are enriched for predicted functions including biofilm formation and toxin/antitoxin modules. Here, we present all our new coding sRNA ORF predictions in a wide range of species, together with confidence scores, supporting evidence, and predicted properties of the proteins.