Ribosomal proteins: functions beyond the ribosome.
Although ribosomal proteins are known for playing an essential role in ribosome assembly and protein translation, their ribosome-independent functions have also been greatly appreciated. Over the past decade, more than a dozen of ribosomal proteins have been found to activate the tumor suppressor p53 pathway in response to ribosomal stress. In addition, these ribosomal proteins are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. This review is composed to overview the current understanding of how ribosomal stress provokes the accumulation of ribosome-free ribosomal proteins, as well as the ribosome-independent functions of ribosomal proteins in tumorigenesis, immune signaling, and development. We also propose the potential of applying these pieces of knowledge to the development of ribosomal stress-based cancer therapeutics.
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Xiang
X
Zhou
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Wen-Juan
WJ
Liao
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Jun-Ming
JM
Liao
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Peng
P
Liao
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA hlu2@tulane.edu.
Hua
H
Lu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
MDM2; cancer; immunity; p53; ribosomal protein; ribosomal stress; ribosomopathy