MRPL44 (54S ribosomal protein L44) is a component of the mitochondrial ribosome (mitoribosome), a dedicated translation machinery responsible for the synthesis of mitochondrial genome-encoded proteins, including at least some of the essential transmembrane subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain [].
MRPL44 is a component of the 39S subunit of mitochondrial ribosome. It may play a role in the assembly/stability of nascent mitochondrial polypeptides exiting the ribosome. MRPL44 contains a RNase III-like domain and a double-stranded RNA binding motif (DSRM) []. DSRM is not sequence specific, but highly specific for dsRNAs of various origin and structure.This entry represents the DSRM of MRPL44 from animals. MRPL44 has been linked to human cardiomyopathy [].
