Ribosomal Protein L34 (RPL34) is a highly conserved protein that is a component of the 60S large subunit of mammalian ribosomes. Ribosomes are essential organelles responsible for protein synthesis in cells. The 60S subunit, along with the 40S subunit, forms the complete ribosome. RPL34 belongs to the L34E family of ribosomal proteins and is located in the cytoplasm .
The RPL34 gene is located on chromosome 4q, although it was initially thought to be located at 17q21 . The gene encodes a protein that is part of the large ribosomal subunit. The protein is involved in the structural stability of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and the accurate folding of rRNA during ribosomal assembly . Alternative splicing of the RPL34 gene results in multiple transcript variants, all encoding the same isoform .
RPL34 plays a crucial role in the synthesis of proteins by facilitating the translation of mRNA into polypeptides. It is a structural constituent of the ribosome and is involved in RNA binding . The protein’s function is essential for maintaining the integrity and function of the ribosome, which is critical for cellular protein synthesis.
Overexpression of RPL34 has been observed in various cancer cells, indicating its potential role in tumorigenesis . For example, RPL34 has been found to be dysregulated in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA), a type of liver cancer. High expression levels of RPL34 in HCCA are associated with poor clinical outcomes, including shorter time to recurrence and lower survival rates . Silencing RPL34 expression in cancer cells has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation and migration, suggesting that RPL34 could be a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment .
Research on RPL34 has focused on its role in cancer biology and its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target. Studies have demonstrated that targeting RPL34 can attenuate tumor growth and improve clinical outcomes in cancer patients . Additionally, recombinant RPL34 protein is used in various research applications to study ribosome function and protein synthesis.