Mitochondrial Ribosomal Protein S18C (MRPS18C)

MRPS18C encodes a 28S subunit protein that belongs to the ribosomal protein S18P family. The encoded protein is one of three that has significant sequence similarity to bacterial S18 proteins. The primary sequences of the three human mitochondrial S18 proteins are no more closely related to each other than they are to the prokaryotic S18 proteins. Pseudogenes corresponding to this gene are found on chromosomes 8p, 12p, 15q, and 22q.The deduced MRPS18C protein contains 142 amino acids and has a calculated molecular mass of 15.9 kD. Removal of a predicted 39-amino acid N-terminal mitochondrial localization signal results in a mature 11.8-kD protein. Mrps18 protein is present in E. coli, whereas other organisms contain several Mrps18 orthologs.