Ribosomal Protein L38 (RPL38)

RPL38 encodes a ribosomal protein that is a component of the 60S subunit. The protein belongs to the L38E family of ribosomal proteins. It is located in the cytoplasm. Alternative splice variants have been identified, both encoding the same protein.

RPL38 is expressed ubiquitously at high levels as a small mRNA whose size is compatible with the length of the isolated cDNA. The 5-prime untranslated region of the RPL38 cDNA contains a stretch of thymidines similar to the polypyrimidine tract known to be involved in the translational regulation of ribosomal protein mRNAs. The deduced 70-amino acid RPL38 protein is basic, with a calculated pI of 10.56. The human RPL38 protein is identical to rat Rpl38.