Update of the Functional Mitochondrial Human Proteome Network

Because of the pivotal
role of mitochondrial alterations in several
diseases, the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) has promoted in recent
years an initiative to characterize the mitochondrial human proteome,
the mitochondrial human proteome project (mt-HPP). Here we generated
an updated version of the functional mitochondrial human proteome
network, made by nodes (mitochondrial proteins) and edges (gold binary
interactions), using data retrieved from neXtProt, the reference database
for HPP metrics. The principal new concept suggested was the consideration
of mitochondria-associated proteins (first interactors), which may
influence mitochondrial functions. All of the proteins described as
mitochondrial in the sublocation or the GO Cellular Component sections
of neXtProt were considered. Their other subcellular and submitochondrial
localizations have been analyzed. The network represents the effort
to collect all of the high-quality binary interactions described so
far for mitochondrial proteins and the possibility for the community
to reuse the information collected. As a proof of principle, we mapped
proteins with no function, to speculate on their role by the background
knowledge of their interactors, and proteins described to be involved
in Parkinson’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, where
it is known that mitochondria play a central role.