Large ribosomal subunit protein uL2

RPL8 encodes large ribosomal subunit protein uL2, a core structural component of the 60S ribosomal subunit involved in protein synthesis (UniProt: P62917). The protein is a constituent of the ribosome's peptidyl transferase center and catalytic machinery, essential for translation initiation, elongation, and termination across all cell types.

RPL8 is ubiquitously expressed and participates in fundamental cellular protein synthesis pathways. No primary disease associations are documented in UniProt for this gene. However, ribosomal proteins have been investigated in neurodegenerative contexts owing to their potential involvement in proteostasis and stress responses.

RPL8 is tagged as upregulated in Alzheimer's Disease. In post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls, RPL8 showed increased abundance with a mean log2 fold-change of +0.62 across one subcellular fraction (Chaparral AD proteomics). This upregulation may reflect compensatory translational responses or altered ribosomal assembly dynamics in AD pathology, though the functional significance remains to be established.