Introduction

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have long been considered passive players in the genome. They have an established role in gene expression, modulating chromatin architecture, or scaffolding complexes, but never thought to code for proteins. But what if that assumption was wrong?

Recent studies have surprisingly uncovered that many lncRNAs contain small open reading frames (smORFs) that can encode functional micropeptides (Pan et al., 2022). These peptides, often overlooked due to their size, are increasingly being recognized for their powerful biological roles.

This project began with a simple but provocative question: Could lncRNAs gain coding potential under stress, specifically during viral infections? The hypothesis is that certain lncRNAs, when challenged by viruses like influenza or SARS-CoV-2, might exert their effect by translating micropeptides.

If that’s true, these virus-induced micropeptides could have unexplored antiviral or even proviral functions. Identification of those micropeptides will enable us to explore their role in the virology lab. In this website, I have compiled the methods, results, discussions, and codes for this exploratory bioinformatic project.