Distribution of micropeptide-coding sORFs in transcripts

Small open reading frames (sORFs) are distributed over a wide variety of transcripts. sORFs encoding functional peptides have been identified in various configurations within apparently long noncoding RNAs. Many translated sORFs have been identified across mRNAs, including 5′-upstream, coding domain, and 3′-downstream. sORFs have also been found in circular RNAs, pri-miRNAs, and ribosomal RNAs. Here, we present an overview of the wide distribution of the sORFs in transcripts and their functional roles in organisms.