How do non-signalsequence small peptides transmit intercellular signals?

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The polished ricegene in Drosophilaencodes extremely small 11 or 32-aa long peptides (PRI peptides) that do not include any signal sequences, although genetic analysis have shown that prishows non-cell autonomous effects to neighboring cells. To elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying the non-cell autonomous signaling by the prigene, we tried to identify PRI peptides-associating proteins using cultured cells. Although we failed to raise specific antibody against PRI peptides, fusion peptides with molecular tags were effectively precipitated with anti-tag antibodies. We identified several proteins that are co-precipitated with PRI fusion peptides.