60S acidic ribosomal protein P2 (RPLP2)

60S acidic ribosomal protein P2, encoded by the RPLP2 gene, is a critical component of the eukaryotic ribosomal stalk, a lateral protuberance on the large 60S ribosomal subunit [1, 10]. It forms a pentameric complex with RPLP0 and RPLP1, which is essential for the elongation phase of protein synthesis by recruiting and positioning translation factors at the ribosome's GTPase center [9, 14]. Beyond its canonical role in translation, RPLP2 has been identified as a moonlighting protein involved in various pathological processes, including cancer progression, viral replication, and autoimmune responses [10, 15]. In many malignancies, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), RPLP2 is significantly upregulated and correlates with poor prognosis, where it appears to inhibit ferroptosis and promote tumor growth [3, 13]. It also serves as an essential host factor for flaviviruses like Dengue and Zika, facilitating the translation of viral proteins by relieving ribosome pausing [14, 16]. Furthermore, RPLP2 acts as a ligand for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), making it a potential adjuvant for dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines [5, 6]. Therapeutic strategies targeting RPLP2, such as the small molecule Destruxin b or antisense oligonucleotides, are being explored to induce ferroptosis in cancer cells or inhibit viral biogenesis [1, 3].

Other names

Ribosomal protein lateral stalk subunit P2 [2, 7]RPP2 [2, 10]LP2 [2, 10]P2 [1, 2]Acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P2 [2]Large ribosomal subunit protein P2 [7, 8]Renal carcinoma antigen NY-REN-44 [2]D11S2243E [1, 2]

Inhibition of translation elongation and induction of ferroptosis in cancer cells; TLR4 agonism for immune activation [1, 3, 5]