Ribosomal Protein L29 (RPL29)

RPL29 encodes a cytoplasmic ribosomal protein that is a component of the 60S subunit. The protein belongs to the L29E family of ribosomal proteins. The protein is also a peripheral membrane protein expressed on the cell surface that directly binds heparin. Although this gene was previously reported to map to 3q29-qter, it is believed that it is located at 3p21.3-p21.2. As is typical for genes encoding ribosomal proteins, there are multiple processed pseudogenes of this gene dispersed through the genome.The cDNA encodes a protein that shows 80.4% homology to protein L29 from the large ribosomal subunit of rat. The putative protein has a large excess of basic residues over acidic residues, with a unique lysine-rich tandem repeat structure that suggested a binding function.