Ribosomal Protein L21 (RPL21)

Ribosomes, the organelles that catalyze protein synthesis, consist of a small 40S subunit and a large 60S subunit. RPL21 encodes a ribosomal protein that is a component of the 60S subunit. The protein belongs to the L21E family of ribosomal proteins. It is located in the cytoplasm. As is typical for genes encoding ribosomal proteins, there are multiple processed pseudogenes of this gene dispersed through the genome. The deduced 160-amino acid human RPL21 differs from rat Rpl21 by 3 amino acids. Northern blot analysis suggested variable expression of RPL21 in colorectal cancers compared to adjacent normal tissues, although no correlation between the level of expression and the severity of the disease was found.