uS7, also known as ribosomal protein S7 (RPS7) is a key component of the small ribosomal subunit in the mitochondrion. This family includes RPS7 from Viridiplantae.The ribosome small subunit is one of the two subunits of ribosome organelles that use mRNA as a template for protein synthesis in a process called translation. The small subunits of bacteria and eukaryotes have the same shape of head, body, platform, beak, and shoulder. RPS7 is located at the head of the small subunit. RPS7 is a primary ribosomal RNA (rRNA) binding protein that assists in rRNA folding and the binding of other proteins during small subunit assembly in all species. RPS7 is also involved in the formation of the mRNA exit channel at the interface of the large and small subunits [, ]. Some ribosomal proteins have extra ribosomal functions in cell differentiation and apoptosis [, ].
This family describes eukaryotic S5 ribosomal proteins and archaeal S7 ribosomal proteins.Ribosomal protein (RP)S5 has variable N-terminal regions that affect the efficiency of initiation translation process by impacting small ribosomal subunit to function []. RPS7 is located at the head of the small subunit which is a primary ribosomal RNA (rRNA) binding protein that assists in rRNA folding and the binding of other proteins during small subunit assembly in all species. RPS7 is also involved in the formation of the mRNA exit channel at the interface of the large and small subunits [, , ].
