Ribosomal protein L21 pseudogene 17 (RPL21P17)

Ribosomal protein L21 pseudogene 17 (RPL21P17) is a pseudogene that shares sequence similarity with the functional ribosomal protein L21 gene but does not encode a functional protein[2]. Pseudogenes like RPL21P17 are considered non-coding genomic elements with no established biological or disease-associated function, and are not drug targets. Multiple ribosomal protein pseudogenes, including forms of RPL21, exist in the human genome as byproducts of retrotransposition and gene duplication[3][5]. RPL21P17 should not be confused with the functional ribosomal protein L21 (RPL21), which is a component of the 60S ribosomal subunit. RPL21P17 is not a therapeutic target (i.e., not a receptor, enzyme, transporter, etc.) and has no known biological or pathological function[2]. If your interest is in therapeutic targeting, RPL21P17 is not relevant; the functional gene is RPL21, which encodes a structural protein of the large ribosomal subunit[3][5]. Naming confusion: Many ribosomal protein genes have multiple processed pseudogenes (like RPL21P17) distributed throughout the genome. Unlike the canonical RPL21, these pseudogenes do not encode protein or have known function[2][5]. Summary: Only the protein-coding RPL21 gene (ribosomal protein L21) is a bona fide molecular entity with established biological function; RPL21P17 is a pseudogene and not a valid molecular target[2][3][5].

Other names

RPL21_9_342RPL21P17