Ribosomal Protein L39 Like Protein (RPL39L)

RPL39L encodes a protein sharing high sequence similarity with ribosomal protein L39. The deduced protein contains 51 amino acids and shares 92% identity with RPL39. PCR analysis of multiple tissues revealed expression of RPL39L only in testis. It was also detected in 6 of 8 cancer samples, none of which was of testis origin.

Further RT-PCR analysis detected RPL39L in 13 of 16 cancer cell lines, and no tissue-specific suppression of RPL39L was observed. Immunocytochemistry of transiently transfected COS-1 and human embryonic kidney cells revealed accumulation of RPL39L in the nucleolus, with weak cytoplasmic staining. Western blot analysis of cytoplasmic ribosomes extracted from transfected cells confirmed association of RPL39L with the 60S large ribosomal subunit.