RPL36AL (ribosomal protein L36a-like) is a structural component of the human 80S ribosomal large subunit involved in translation. The protein belongs to the conserved L44e ribosomal protein family found in all eukaryotes and archaea 1. Mechanistically, RPL36AL makes intimate contact with the CCA end of tRNA positioned at the P-site of the ribosome, specifically interacting with nucleotides C74, C75, and the terminal adenosine (A76) through its Lys53 residue 2. The protein also contacts translation termination factors at the peptidyl transferase center during the post-termination state 3. RPL36AL contains multiple post-translational modifications including seven monomethylated residues and harbors a conserved GGQ motif associated with peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis regulation 2. Unlike testis-specific paralogs RPL10L and RPL39L, RPL36AL is ubiquitously expressed across tissues, having arisen through retrotransposition from an X-linked RP gene 4. Disease relevance includes identification as a diagnostic biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and metabolic syndrome 5, where it was part of a machine learning model discriminating AD patients with 85.9% AUC 6. RPL36AL serves as a hub gene in spermatogonial stem cell differentiation, regulated by transcription factors NFIB and NFIX 7. While RPL36AL was screened in Diamond-Blackfan anemia patients, no mutations were identified in this cohort 8.