RPL7 — Ribosomal Protein L7

RPL7 — Ribosomal Protein L7

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">RPL7 — Ribosomal Protein L7</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td>RPL7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Name</td>
<td>Ribosomal Protein L7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>8q12.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>6130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>P18124</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000101290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Aliases</td>
<td>L7, SAHM1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>180436</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

Introduction

RPL7 — Ribosomal Protein L7

Overview

<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">RPL7 — Ribosomal Protein L7</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td>RPL7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Name</td>
<td>Ribosomal Protein L7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>8q12.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene ID</td>
<td>6130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt ID</td>
<td>P18124</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl ID</td>
<td>ENSG00000101290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Aliases</td>
<td>L7, SAHM1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td>180436</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">KG Connections</td>
<td><a href="/atlas" style="color:#4fc3f7">1 edges</a></td>
</tr>
</table>

Introduction

RPL7 (Ribosomal Protein L7) encodes a component of the large 60S ribosomal subunit. While ribosomal proteins were historically viewed as structural components essential for protein synthesis, emerging research has revealed that RPL7 and other ribosomal proteins play crucial roles in various cellular processes beyond translation, including regulation of gene expression, cell cycle control, and neuronal function [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12411577/). The involvement of ribosomal proteins in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), has become an area of intense investigation [2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22911879/).

Function

Role in Protein Synthesis

RPL7 is a constituent of the 60S large ribosomal subunit, where it participates in the peptidyl transferase reaction and contributes to the structural integrity of the ribosome [3](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9724655/). The protein contains an N-terminal acidic domain and a C-terminal basic DNA-binding domain, allowing it to interact with both RNA and DNA molecules [4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7926787/).

Extra-Ribosomal Functions

Beyond its canonical role in translation, RPL7 has been implicated in several extra-ribosomal functions:

Expression Pattern

RPL7 is ubiquitously expressed across all tissues, with high expression levels in metabolically active tissues including brain, liver, and kidney. Within the brain, RPL7 is expressed in various regions including the [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus), [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex), [cerebellum](/brain-regions/cerebellum), and [substantia nigra](/brain-regions/substantia-nigra) [9](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10676951/).

Role in Neurodegeneration

Alzheimer's Disease

Ribosomal dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a key feature of Alzheimer's disease. Several studies have documented alterations in ribosomal protein expression and function in AD brain tissue:

Parkinson's Disease

RPL7 and other ribosomal proteins are implicated in PD through several mechanisms:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

RPL7 dysregulation has been implicated in ALS pathogenesis:

Other Neurodegenerative Conditions

RPL7 alterations have been documented in:

• Huntington's Disease: Transcriptional dysregulation of ribosomal proteins including RPL7 [20](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23246643/)
• Frontotemporal Dementia: Altered ribosomal protein expression patterns [21](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23612641/)
• Multiple Sclerosis: Dysregulated ribosomal protein expression in demyelinating lesions [22](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21849755/)

Therapeutic Implications

Understanding RPL7's role in neurodegeneration opens potential therapeutic avenues:

Interaction Network

Gene Variants and Polymorphisms

While RPL7 is not a major disease-causing gene in neurodegeneration, several polymorphisms have been studied:

• Various SNPs in the RPL7 gene region have been examined for association with neurodegenerative diseases
• Copy number variations involving RPL7 have been reported in certain cancers
• Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) for RPL7 are associated with brain aging

Research Directions

Key areas of ongoing research include:

See Also

• [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
• [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
• [Ribosome Biogenesis](/mechanisms/ribosome-biogenesis)
• [Protein Synthesis](/mechanisms/protein-synthesis)
• [Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis](/mechanisms/amyloid-cascade)
• [Synaptic Dysfunction](/mechanisms/synaptic-dysfunction)
• [RPL7 — UniProt](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P18124)
• [NCBI Gene: RPL7](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6130)

References