Ribosomal Protein L3 Like Protein (RPL3L)

RPL3L encodes a protein that shares sequence similarity with ribosomal protein L3. The protein belongs to the L3P family of ribosomal proteins. Unlike the ubiquitous expression of ribosomal protein genes, this gene has a tissue-specific pattern of expression, with the highest levels of expression in skeletal muscle and heart. It is not currently known whether the encoded protein is a functional ribosomal protein or whether it has evolved a function that is independent of the ribosome. A full-length cDNA encoding a novel ribosomal protein L3 gene was isolated and sequenced. The deduced protein sequence is 407 amino acids long and shows 77% identity to other known mammalian ribosomal protein L3 genes, which are themselves highly conserved. This novel gene, RPL3L, is located in a gene-rich region near the PKD1 and TSC2 genes on chromosome 16p13.3.