Decoding Plant Ribosomal Proteins: Multitasking Players in Cellular Games

Abstract

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) were traditionally considered as ribosome building blocks, serving exclusively in ribosome assembly. However, contemporary research highlights their involvement in additional translational roles, as well as diverse non-ribosomal activities. The functional diversity of RPs is further enriched by the presence of 2–7 paralogs per RP family in plants, suggesting that these proteins may perform distinct, specialized functions. The spatiotemporal expression of RP paralogs allows for the assembly of unique ribosomes (ribosome heterogeneity), enabling the selective translation of specific mRNAs, and producing specialized proteins essential for plant functioning. Additionally, RPs that operate independently of ribosomes as free molecules may regulate a wide range of physiological processes. RPs involved in protein biosynthesis within the cytosol, mitochondria, or plastids are encoded by distinct genes, which account for their functional specialization. Notably, RPs associated with plastid or mitochondrial ribosomes, beyond their canonical roles in these organelles, also contribute to overall plant development and functionality, akin to their cytosolic counterparts. This review explores the roles of RPs in different cellular compartments, the presumed molecular mechanisms underlying their functions, and the involvement of other molecular factors that cooperate with RPs in these processes. In addition to the new RP nomenclature introduced in 2022/2023, the old names are also applied.