MRPL32 encodes a component of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit (mt-LSU), a critical structural element of the mitoribosome responsible for synthesizing proteins within mitochondria 1. As a ribosomal protein, MRPL32 functions in mitochondrial translation and protein synthesis, essential processes for producing the mitochondrial genome-encoded respiratory chain components 2. MRPL32 is subject to proteolytic processing by the AFG3L2 AAA+ protease via a conserved presequence-targeting mechanism, enabling maturation into its functional form 3. The protein is also susceptible to Lon-mediated proteolysis when not bound to nucleic acids, providing a regulatory mechanism for mitochondrial nucleoid dynamics 4. Disease relevance includes associations with stroke pathogenesis: Mendelian randomization analysis identified MRPL32 as a genetic risk factor specifically for large artery stroke, suggesting mitochondrial bioenergetics dysfunction in stroke pathophysiology 5. Additionally, MRPL32 knockdown increases cell viability and reduces apoptosis under oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion conditions, implicating MRPL32 in ischemia-reperfusion injury mechanisms 6. MRPL32 was also identified as a hub gene in ischemic stroke epigenetic networks 7. These findings suggest MRPL32 may represent a therapeutic target for stroke prevention and treatment through modulation of mitochondrial translation and energy metabolism.