MRPL24 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L24) is a structural component of the mitochondrial 39S large ribosomal subunit essential for mitochondrial translation 1. As one of 82 mitoribosomal proteins, MRPL24 functions in synthesizing mitochondrial-encoded electron transport chain subunits 1. The protein is highly conserved across eukaryotes and expressed in metabolically active tissues 12. Mechanistically, MRPL24 participates in mitoribosomal assembly; mutations cause conformational changes affecting interactions with other 39S subunit components 1. MRPL24 depletion impairs mitochondrial protein synthesis, reduces oxygen consumption, and activates compensatory oxidative stress responses through SKN-1-dependent upregulation of detoxifying enzymes 3. Clinically, MRPL24 mutations cause complex movement disorders including cerebellar atrophy, choreoathetosis, intellectual disability, and combined respiratory chain complex I/IV deficiency 1. Beyond Mendelian disease, MRPL24 is amplified in 60% of metastatic breast cancers and associated with poor prognosis, enhanced stemness, and migration through c-MYC, BRD4, and STAT3 activation 4. MRPL24 is also a prognostic marker in hepatocellular carcinoma and uveal melanoma, and a component of transcriptomic signatures predicting rheumatoid arthritis treatment response and COVID-19 susceptibility in lung cancer patients 5678.