MRPL16 is a structural component of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit essential for mitochondrial protein synthesis 1. As a mitochondrial ribosomal protein, MRPL16 participates in late-stage assembly of the large mitoribosomes, where it is incorporated following 21S rRNA maturation and remodeling orchestrated by DEAD box proteins 1. The protein functions in mitochondrial translational elongation and is involved in oxidative phosphorylation—critical for cellular energy metabolism 2. Clinically, MRPL16 expression is dysregulated across multiple disease contexts. In hepatocellular carcinoma, MRPL16 is significantly upregulated and serves as a diagnostic biomarker with good diagnostic performance 3. In breast cancer, low MRPL16 expression is associated with poor prognosis, and the protein was integrated into prognostic models 4. MRPL16 is upregulated in diabetic retinopathy and contributes to abnormal cell metabolism and protein synthesis in this complication 5. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, MRPL16 functions as an immune-cell-related biomarker correlating with immune infiltration 6. Additionally, MRPL16 was identified as a hub gene in septic cardiomyopathy, associated with metabolic dysfunction and oxidative phosphorylation impairment 7. These findings suggest MRPL16 may serve as a potential therapeutic target and diagnostic marker across multiple pathological conditions.