Ribosomes, the organelles that catalyze protein synthesis,
consist of a small 40S subunit and a large 60S subunit. Together
these subunits are composed of 4 RNA species and approximately 80
structurally distinct proteins. This gene encodes a cytoplasmic
ribosomal protein that is a component of the 60S subunit. The
protein belongs to the L22E family of ribosomal proteins. Its
initiating methionine residue is post-translationally removed. The
protein can bind specifically to Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNAs
(EBERs) 1 and 2. The mouse protein has been shown to be capable of
binding to heparin. Transcript variants utilizing alternative polyA
signals exist. As is typical for genes encoding ribosomal proteins,
there are multiple processed pseudogenes of this gene dispersed
through the genome. It was previously thought that this gene mapped
to 3q26 and that it was fused to the acute myeloid leukemia 1
(AML1) gene located at 21q22 in some therapy-related
myelodysplastic syndrome patients with 3;21 translocations;
however, these fusions actually involve a ribosomal protein L22
pseudogene located at 3q26, and this gene actually maps to
1p36.3-p36.2.
