The general view of ribosomal proteins (RPs) is one of generic cellular proteins that function exclusively to maintain the integrity of the ribosome. In the last decade, however, there has been mounting evidence suggesting that RPs can also play specialized and regulatory roles that contribute to important cellular pathways. Yet, molecular mechanisms by which RPs carry out specific functions outside of the ribosomes have remained elusive.

We have recently discovered new auxiliary functions of RPs in both yeast and human cells. A major goal of our lab is to define new cellular mechanisms whereby RPs play specialized and regulatory roles that influence the basic functioning of eukaryotic cells. This knowledge will be relevant to the growing number of human disorders associated to mutations in RP genes, including malignant tumors and ribosomopathies, but for which the tissue-specific nature of these diseases is difficult to reconcile with the view that RPs play identical roles in every cell of the body.