MRPL33 encodes a large subunit protein of the mitochondrial ribosome involved in mitochondrial translation 1. The gene produces two isoforms through alternative splicing: the long form (MRPL33-L) containing exon 3 and the short form (MRPL33-S) lacking exon 3, with distinct functional roles 2. MRPL33-L depletion impairs mitochondrial function, increasing reactive oxygen species accumulation and decreasing ATP production and 16S rRNA levels 1. In cancer biology, MRPL33-L promotes tumor cell proliferation and survival. Its splicing is regulated by hnRNPK and RBM39 in different cancer types; elevated MRPL33-L inclusion correlates with enhanced tumorigenicity in colorectal and gastric cancers 1 3. Conversely, MRPL33-S promotes chemosensitivity to epirubicin in gastric cancer by deactivating PI3K/AKT signaling 2. Beyond cancer, MRPL33 shows dysregulated expression in diverse conditions: reduced expression in congenital hypothyroidism associates with impaired thyroid function via IL-2/STAT5 pathways 4, elevated levels protect against primary biliary cholangitis 5, and altered expression correlates with tuberculosis progression 6. These findings establish MRPL33 as a multi-functional biomarker whose isoform composition and expression levels influence mitochondrial function, immune regulation, and disease progression across multiple pathologies.
No related genes found for this gene.
No tissue expression data available for this gene.