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.