Affinage

SLIRP

SRA stem-loop-interacting RNA-binding protein, mitochondrial · UniProt Q9GZT3

Length
109 aa
Mass
12.3 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-10
20 papers in source corpus 14 papers cited in narrative 14 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 7/7 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

SLIRP is a small RRM-domain RNA-binding protein that functions principally in mitochondrial gene expression, where it forms a stable heterodimer with LRPPRC to maintain the steady-state pool of mtDNA-encoded mRNAs and support oxidative phosphorylation (PMID:19680543, PMID:22661577). The complex binds cotranscriptionally to mitochondrial mRNA coding sequences and suppresses 3′ exonucleolytic degradation by PNPase/SUV3, thereby extending transcript half-life (PMID:22661577). Within the heterodimer, the partnership is built on an unexpected protein-protein interface: polar residues of SLIRP's RNP1 motif engage three PPR motifs of LRPPRC, repurposing surfaces predicted to bind RNA, so that LRPPRC carries the strong RNA-binding activity while SLIRP binds RNA only weakly and reciprocally protects LRPPRC from proteolysis (PMID:26247782, PMID:27353330). Beyond stabilization, SLIRP is required for efficient mitochondrial translation—it loads mRNAs onto the mitoribosome and associates with the small subunit, and cryo-EM shows the LRPPRC-SLIRP complex docking onto the mitoribosome via mS39/mS31 to form a corridor that hands mRNA off to the small subunit, with transcript-specific effects on COX1, COX2, and complex I/IV biogenesis (PMID:26247782, PMID:38203264, PMID:39134711, PMID:39087558). In skeletal muscle, SLIRP is a PGC-1α transcriptional target that couples mitochondrial biogenesis to the mtDNA-encoded mRNA pool (PMID:39537626). Independently of its mitochondrial role, SLIRP binds the noncoding RNA SRA and acts as a corepressor of nuclear receptor transactivation, including the androgen receptor, in an RRM- and SRA-dependent manner; its occupancy at androgen response elements is released upon androgen signaling and disrupted by Ack1-mediated AR phosphorylation (PMID:16762838, PMID:31819114). SLIRP also stabilizes mitochondrial double-stranded RNA and promotes its cytosolic release to amplify MDA5-driven interferon responses (PMID:40253699).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 13 steps
  1. 2006 High

    Established SLIRP's first molecular identity by showing it is an RRM protein that binds the SRA noncoding RNA and represses nuclear receptor transactivation, defining an unexpected nuclear corepressor role while noting most of the protein is mitochondrial.

    Evidence RNA-binding assays, co-IP, reporter assays with RRM mutants, ChIP at endogenous promoters, and subcellular fractionation in human cells

    PMID:16762838

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not resolve how the same protein partitions between nucleus and mitochondria
    • Mechanism of corepression on chromatin not defined at the structural level
  2. 2009 Medium

    Demonstrated that SLIRP is functionally required for mitochondrial mRNA homeostasis, linking its loss to destabilized OxPhos complexes and reduced mtDNA-encoded transcripts.

    Evidence RNAi knockdown with OxPhos enzymatic activity assays and mitochondrial mRNA quantification in human cells

    PMID:19680543

    Open questions at the time
    • Did not identify the partner protein or the degradation pathway being countered
    • Single-lab knockdown without genetic rescue
  3. 2012 High

    Mechanistically placed SLIRP in the LRPPRC complex that cotranscriptionally coats mRNA coding regions and blocks 3′ exonucleolytic decay, explaining transcript stabilization.

    Evidence Absolute mtRNA quantification, in vitro polyadenylation with MTPAP, and RNAi of complex components

    PMID:22661577

    Open questions at the time
    • Relative contributions of SLIRP versus LRPPRC to stabilization not separated
    • Did not establish in vivo requirement
  4. 2015 High

    In vivo knockout disentangled SLIRP from LRPPRC functions, showing SLIRP mutually stabilizes LRPPRC, is dispensable for polyadenylation, and is required for mitoribosome association and efficient translation.

    Evidence Slirp knockout mice with deep RNAseq of mitoribosomal fractions and translation pulse-labeling

    PMID:26247782

    Open questions at the time
    • Structural basis of mitoribosome engagement not defined
    • Did not explain transcript-specific translation effects
  5. 2016 High

    Defined the LRPPRC-SLIRP interface at residue level, revealing the surprising repurposing of RNA-binding surfaces for protein-protein contact and that LRPPRC, not SLIRP, carries strong RNA binding.

    Evidence In vitro RNA-binding and interface mutagenesis of RRM/PPR residues with complex stability assays

    PMID:27353330

    Open questions at the time
    • How SLIRP contributes to RNA recognition within the complex left unresolved
    • No full-length complex structure
  6. 2016 Medium

    Identified BCL-2 as a stabilizing partner of SLIRP that modulates mitochondrial mRNA levels, while excluding SLIRP from BCL-2's anti-apoptotic function.

    Evidence Affinity purification-MS, reciprocal co-IP with BCL-2 domain deletion mutants, immunofluorescence

    PMID:26866271

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional consequence of BCL-2 binding for translation untested
    • Single-lab interaction without in vivo validation
  7. 2017 High

    Revealed an unanticipated nucleic-acid activity, showing SLIRP binds G-quadruplex DNA with nanomolar affinity via its RRM and occupies G-rich genomic regions, broadening its functional repertoire.

    Evidence G4-interaction proteomics, in vitro Kd binding with RRM mutagenesis, and CRISPR-tagged ChIP-Seq

    PMID:28859475

    Open questions at the time
    • Biological consequence of G4 binding not established
    • Relationship to its SRA/nuclear receptor role unclear
  8. 2019 Medium

    Positioned SLIRP as an RNA chaperone interacting with the helicase proteome to facilitate rRNA 2′-O-methylation and promote translation.

    Evidence Quantitative proteomic interaction screen, rRNA 2′-O-methylation mapping, and translation efficiency assays

    PMID:31260285

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct helicase partners not individually validated
    • Causal link between methylation changes and translation not isolated
  9. 2019 Medium

    Connected SLIRP's nuclear corepressor activity to signaling control, showing Ack1-mediated AR Tyr-267 phosphorylation and androgen treatment release SLIRP from androgen response elements in an SRA-dependent manner.

    Evidence Co-IP, ChIP at endogenous AREs, kinase/ligand perturbations, and transcriptome analysis after SLIRP knockdown

    PMID:31819114

    Open questions at the time
    • How SLIRP physically silences AR target genes not resolved
    • Single-lab; nuclear pool quantification not addressed
  10. 2024 High

    Provided the structural basis for translation handoff, showing the LRPPRC-SLIRP complex docks on the mitoribosome through mS39/mS31 to form an mRNA corridor to the small subunit, with transcript-specific translation effects.

    Evidence Cryo-EM structure with ribosome profiling and metabolic labeling

    PMID:39134711

    Open questions at the time
    • Dynamics of mRNA transfer not captured
    • Does not explain why specific transcripts depend more on the complex
  11. 2024 High

    In vivo genetics refined the translation phenotype, showing SLIRP loss selectively reduces complex I, interface mutations cause LRPPRC destabilization and ATP8 dysregulation, and SLIRP loss is synthetically lethal with a pathogenic mtDNA mutation.

    Evidence Slirp knockout and interface knock-in mice, translation labeling, and heteroplasmy crosses

    PMID:39087558

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism of transcript-selective translation effects unresolved
    • ATP8 increase mechanism not explained
  12. 2024 Medium

    Placed SLIRP within the PGC-1α mitochondrial biogenesis program in muscle and showed exercise can partially compensate for its loss by boosting mitoribosome capacity.

    Evidence Muscle-specific Slirp/Lrpprc knockout mice with exercise intervention, mitoribosome profiling, and Drosophila lifespan assays

    PMID:39537626

    Open questions at the time
    • How exercise compensates despite low mRNA levels not mechanistically resolved
    • Single consortium
  13. 2025 Medium

    Identified a role in innate immunity, showing SLIRP stabilizes mitochondrial dsRNA and promotes its cytosolic release to amplify MDA5-driven interferon signaling in a positive feedback loop.

    Evidence SLIRP knockdown in cell lines and patient cells, mt-dsRNA quantification, and MDA5/interferon pathway readouts

    PMID:40253699

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether mt-dsRNA stabilization is direct or via the LRPPRC complex unclear
    • Mechanism of cytosolic release not defined

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • How SLIRP's distinct activities—mitochondrial mRNA stabilization, nuclear receptor corepression, G4 DNA binding, and immune dsRNA stabilization—are coordinated and spatially partitioned within the cell remains unresolved.
  • No unifying model explaining nuclear versus mitochondrial pool regulation
  • Mechanism of transcript-selective translation control unknown
  • Functional significance of G4 DNA binding undefined

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0003723 RNA binding 4 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 2 GO:0140110 transcription regulator activity 2 GO:0003677 DNA binding 1
Localization
GO:0005739 mitochondrion 4 GO:0005634 nucleus 2
Pathway
R-HSA-392499 Metabolism of proteins 4 R-HSA-8953854 Metabolism of RNA 3 R-HSA-74160 Gene expression (Transcription) 2 R-HSA-168256 Immune System 1
Complex memberships
LRPPRC-SLIRP complexmitochondrial small ribosomal subunit (mt-SSU)

Evidence

Reading pass · 14 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2006 SLIRP was identified as an RNA-binding protein containing an RRM domain that binds the STR7 stem-loop substructure of the noncoding RNA SRA (Steroid Receptor RNA Activator), represses nuclear receptor (NR) transactivation in an RRM- and SRA-dependent manner, augments tamoxifen's effect, and modulates SRC-1 association with SRA. SLIRP also colocalizes with the NR coregulator SKIP and reduces SKIP-potentiated NR signaling. SLIRP is recruited to endogenous NR target gene promoters (pS2 and metallothionein), and NCoR promoter recruitment is dependent on SLIRP. The majority of endogenous SLIRP resides in mitochondria. RNA-binding assays, co-immunoprecipitation, reporter gene assays with RRM mutants, ChIP at endogenous promoters, subcellular fractionation/immunofluorescence Molecular cell High 16762838
2009 RNAi-mediated silencing of SLIRP destabilizes oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) complexes, causes marked loss of OxPhos enzymatic activity, and results in reduced steady-state levels of mitochondria-encoded mRNAs that encode OxPhos subunits, establishing an essential role for SLIRP in maintaining mitochondrial mRNA homeostasis. RNAi knockdown in human cells, OxPhos enzymatic activity assays, mitochondrial mRNA quantification PLoS genetics Medium 19680543
2012 The LRPPRC/SLIRP complex cotranscriptionally binds to coding sequences of mitochondrial mRNAs, suppresses 3′ exonucleolytic mRNA degradation mediated by PNPase/SUV3, and LRPPRC promotes polyadenylation of mtRNAs by mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase (MTPAP) in vitro, thereby stabilizing mitochondrial mRNAs and correlating with their longer cellular half-lives. Absolute quantification of mitochondrial mRNAs, in vitro polyadenylation assay with MTPAP, RNAi knockdown of complex components, RNA-binding experiments Nucleic acids research High 22661577
2015 In vivo knockout of Slirp in mice shows: (1) SLIRP stabilizes LRPPRC by protecting it from proteolytic degradation; (2) SLIRP's own stability is completely dependent on LRPPRC; (3) SLIRP is dispensable for polyadenylation of mtDNA-encoded mRNAs (distinct from LRPPRC); (4) SLIRP is required for proper association of mitochondrial mRNAs with the mitoribosome and efficient mitochondrial translation, as shown by deep RNAseq of ribosomal fractions. Slirp knockout mice, deep RNA sequencing of mitoribosomal fractions, pulse-labeling of mitochondrial translation products, polyadenylation assays PLoS genetics High 26247782
2016 The LRPPRC-SLIRP heterodimer interface is formed by polar amino acids in SLIRP's single RRM domain (specifically the RNP1 motif) and three neighboring PPR motifs in the second quarter of LRPPRC; unexpectedly, residues predicted to contact RNA in both proteins are instead used for protein-protein interaction. LRPPRC displays broad strong RNA-binding capacity in vitro, whereas SLIRP associates only weakly with RNA. In vitro RNA-binding assays, mutagenesis of RRM and PPR interface residues, protein-protein interaction studies, complex stability assays Nucleic acids research High 27353330
2016 SLIRP interacts with BCL-2; BCL-2 binds and stabilizes SLIRP protein and regulates mitochondrial mRNA levels. The BH4 domain of BCL-2 is required for maintaining this binding. SLIRP is not involved in mediating BCL-2's protection from apoptosis or oxidative damage. Affinity purification-mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation with domain deletion mutants, immunofluorescence co-localization Cell death & disease Medium 26866271
2017 SLIRP was identified as a novel G-quadruplex (G4) DNA-binding protein. SLIRP binds G4 DNA directly with Kd values in the low nanomolar range; this binding requires the RRM domain. ChIP-Seq (using CRISPR-Cas9-introduced affinity tag) showed that SLIRP preferentially occupies G-rich genomic regions that can fold into G4 structures. Quantitative mass spectrometry-based G4-interaction proteomics, in vitro binding assays with Kd measurement, RRM domain mutagenesis, CRISPR-Cas9 affinity tagging + ChIP-Seq Journal of the American Chemical Society High 28859475
2019 SLIRP interacts with the majority of the human helicase proteome; these interactions facilitate 2′-O-methylation of nucleosides in rRNA and promote protein translation. SLIRP thus functions as an RNA chaperone. Quantitative proteomics (interaction screen), 2′-O-methylation mapping of rRNA, translation efficiency assays Journal of the American Chemical Society Medium 31260285
2019 Ack1 tyrosine kinase phosphorylation of AR at Tyr-267 disrupts the AR-SLIRP interaction. The noncoding RNA SRA is required for the AR-SLIRP interaction. SLIRP is bound to androgen response elements (AREs) of AR target genes in the absence of androgen, and androgen or heregulin treatment causes SLIRP dissociation from AREs. Whole-transcriptome analysis shows SLIRP knockdown affects a significant subset of androgen-regulated genes, consistent with a corepressor role for SLIRP on AR. Co-immunoprecipitation, ChIP at endogenous AREs, kinase inhibitor and ligand treatments, transcriptome analysis after SLIRP knockdown Scientific reports Medium 31819114
2023 Deletion of SLIRP in HEK293T cells disturbs mitochondrial translation specifically affecting complexes I and IV but not complexes III and V. SLIRP interacts only with the small subunit (mt-SSU) of the mitochondrial ribosome, suggesting involvement in mitochondrial translation initiation. SLIRP gene deletion (CRISPR), click-chemistry-based mitochondrial translation labeling, ribosome subunit co-immunoprecipitation International journal of molecular sciences Medium 38203264
2024 Cryo-EM structure of the LRPPRC-SLIRP complex bound to mRNA and the mitoribosome shows: LRPPRC associates with mitoribosomal proteins mS39 and the N-terminus of mS31 through its helical repeats, forming a corridor for mRNA handoff to the ribosome. SLIRP directly binds the mRNA and also stabilizes LRPPRC. Mitoribosome profiling demonstrated transcript-specific effects on translation efficiency, with COX1 and COX2 translation most affected. Cryo-EM structure determination, RNA sequencing, metabolic labeling, mitoribosome profiling Nature structural & molecular biology High 39134711
2024 Loss of SLIRP in mice causes selective decrease in complex I levels while other OXPHOS complexes are unaffected. Knock-in mice with mutations disrupting the LRPPRC-SLIRP protein interface show partial LRPPRC degradation, complete SLIRP loss, and impaired mitochondrial translation except for a marked increase in ATP8 synthesis. Combining Slirp knockout with a heteroplasmic pathogenic mtDNA mutation (m.C5024T in tRNAAla) causes additive mitochondrial translation defects leading to embryonic lethality. Slirp knockout mice, LRPPRC interface knock-in mice, mitochondrial translation labeling, mtDNA heteroplasmy crosses, mouse embryonic fibroblast growth assays Nucleic acids research High 39087558
2024 In skeletal muscle, SLIRP (in complex with LRPPRC) is a PGC-1α transcriptional target that regulates mitochondrial structure, respiration, and mtDNA-encoded mRNA pools. Exercise training counteracts mitochondrial defects from LRPPRC/SLIRP loss by increasing mitoribosome translation capacity and mitochondrial quality control, despite sustained low mtDNA-encoded mRNA levels. Muscle-specific Slirp/Lrpprc knockout mice, exercise training intervention, mitoribosome profiling, respiration assays, Drosophila lifespan assay Nature communications Medium 39537626
2025 SLIRP stabilizes mitochondrial double-stranded RNAs (mt-dsRNAs) and promotes their cytosolic release, creating a positive feedback loop: exogenous dsRNA activates MDA5, which upregulates SLIRP, which stabilizes mt-dsRNAs and elevates their cytosolic levels to further activate MDA5 and amplify the interferon response. SLIRP knockdown dampens the interferon response and reduces mt-dsRNA cytosolic levels. SLIRP knockdown in cell lines and primary patient cells, mt-dsRNA quantification, MDA5 pathway reporter assays, interferon-stimulated gene expression analysis Cell reports Medium 40253699

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 20 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2012 LRPPRC/SLIRP suppresses PNPase-mediated mRNA decay and promotes polyadenylation in human mitochondria. Nucleic acids research 162 22661577
2009 A computational screen for regulators of oxidative phosphorylation implicates SLIRP in mitochondrial RNA homeostasis. PLoS genetics 129 19680543
2006 SLIRP, a small SRA binding protein, is a nuclear receptor corepressor. Molecular cell 110 16762838
2015 SLIRP Regulates the Rate of Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis and Protects LRPPRC from Degradation. PLoS genetics 83 26247782
2017 Identification of SLIRP as a G Quadruplex-Binding Protein. Journal of the American Chemical Society 51 28859475
2016 SLIRP stabilizes LRPPRC via an RRM-PPR protein interface. Nucleic acids research 47 27353330
2024 Structural basis of LRPPRC-SLIRP-dependent translation by the mitoribosome. Nature structural & molecular biology 34 39134711
2013 Loss of the nuclear receptor corepressor SLIRP compromises male fertility. PloS one 21 23976951
2024 LRPPRC and SLIRP synergize to maintain sufficient and orderly mammalian mitochondrial translation. Nucleic acids research 18 39087558
2024 The mitochondrial mRNA-stabilizing protein SLIRP regulates skeletal muscle mitochondrial structure and respiration by exercise-recoverable mechanisms. Nature communications 15 39537626
2016 Affinity purification-mass spectrometry analysis of bcl-2 interactome identified SLIRP as a novel interacting protein. Cell death & disease 12 26866271
2019 Interaction between androgen receptor and coregulator SLIRP is regulated by Ack1 tyrosine kinase and androgen. Scientific reports 10 31819114
2019 SLIRP Interacts with Helicases to Facilitate 2'-O-Methylation of rRNA and to Promote Translation. Journal of the American Chemical Society 8 31260285
2021 Pathogenic SLIRP variants as a novel cause of autosomal recessive mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with complex I and IV deficiency. European journal of human genetics : EJHG 7 34426662
2025 SLIRP amplifies antiviral signaling via positive feedback regulation and contributes to autoimmune diseases. Cell reports 4 40253699
2020 Effects of SLIRP on Sperm Motility and Oxidative Stress. BioMed research international 4 33150185
2024 SLIRP promotes autoimmune diseases by amplifying antiviral signaling via positive feedback regulation. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology 2 38915695
2023 Mitochondrial Protein SLIRP Affects Biosynthesis of Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunits in HEK293T Cells. International journal of molecular sciences 1 38203264
2026 SLIRP maintains energy metabolism homeostasis in colorectal cancer by stabilizing mitochondrial-encoded mRNAs. British journal of cancer 0 42049860
2025 Mitochondria-located circRCP regulates redox homeostasis via stabilizing LRPPRC/SLIRP complex to promote bladder urothelial carcinoma tumorigenesis. Cancer letters 0 41274398

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