Large ribosomal subunit protein uL13

Summary

RPL13A (large ribosomal subunit protein uL13) is a 203-amino acid component of the large ribosomal subunit with both ribosomal and extra-ribosomal functions (UniProt: P40429). Beyond its role in rRNA methylation, it participates in the GAIT (gamma interferon-activated inhibitor of translation) complex, where phosphorylation-induced dissociation from the ribosome enables binding to GAIT elements in inflammatory mRNA 3'-UTRs to suppress translation during interferon-gamma activation (UniProt: P40429).

The protein is broadly involved in translation regulation and inflammatory responses. No specific tissue-restricted expression pattern is annotated in UniProt.

RPL13A is upregulated in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue. Chaparral AD proteomics data from post-mortem AD brain versus age-matched controls (TMT-labeled, four subcellular fractions, DDA proteomics) detected RPL13A as significantly elevated with a mean log2 fold-change of 1.42 (Chaparral AD proteomics). This upregulation may reflect altered translation capacity or inflammatory signaling dynamics in the AD brain.