MRPL36 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L36) is a structural component of the mitochondrial large ribosomal subunit involved in mitochondrial translation 1. MRPL36 functions as part of the mitochondrial translation machinery and associates with other mitochondrial proteins including LETM1, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein that regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and ATP production 2. The protein interacts with USP30 and other mitochondrial ribosomal proteins within functional protein complexes 3. Clinically, MRPL36 expression is dysregulated across multiple malignancies. In hepatocellular carcinoma, MRPL36 was identified as part of a prognostic signature incorporating five MRP genes and ferroptosis-related genes that predicts patient survival, disease progression, and treatment response 4. In breast cancer, MRPL36 was among four mitochondrial genes selected to construct a risk score model where elevated expression correlates with poor prognosis and is associated with higher mutation rates and unfavorable clinical features 1. MRPL36 expression is also regulated by air pollution exposure through DNA methylation changes in monocytes, suggesting environmental influence on this gene's regulation 5. These findings position MRPL36 as both a functional component of mitochondrial translation and a potential biomarker for cancer prognosis, though further validation is needed to establish clinical utility.