MRPL53 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L53) is a structural component of the mitochondrial large (39S) ribosomal subunit that plays a critical role in mitochondrial protein synthesis 1. The protein localizes to the mitochondrial inner membrane and functions within the mitochondrial translation machinery 2. MRPL53 interacts with MYC, a transcription factor essential for normal facial morphogenesis 1. Clinically, MRPL53 variants have been identified as susceptibility loci for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P), a common congenital malformation affecting approximately 1.2 per 1000 live births 31. A significant eQTL variant (rs1063588) affecting MRPL53 gene expression was discovered through tissue-specific analysis of lip muscle samples from affected individuals, demonstrating the functional relevance of MRPL53 dysregulation in orofacial cleft pathogenesis 1. Beyond orofacial clefts, MRPL53 has emerged as a prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma, where it was identified among 16 RNA-binding proteins associated with poor patient outcomes 4. Additionally, elevated MRPL53 expression appears linked to metabolic dysfunction, with increased levels observed in diabetic patients' colon tissue, suggesting involvement in diabetes-associated carcinogenesis through mitochondrial dysfunction 5. These findings underscore MRPL53's importance in both developmental processes and disease pathogenesis.