Ubiquitin A-52 residue ribosomal protein fusion product 1

60S ribosomal protein L40 (RPL40) is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the UBA52 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
is_associated_with::Ubiquitin is a highly conserved nuclear and cytoplasmic protein that has a major role in targeting cellular proteins for degradation by the 26S proteosome. It is also involved in the maintenance of is_associated_with::chromatin structure, the regulation of is_associated_with::gene expression, and the stress response. Ubiquitin is synthesized as a precursor protein consisting of either polyubiquitin chains or a single ubiquitin moiety fused to an unrelated protein. This gene encodes a fusion protein consisting of ubiquitin at the is_associated_with::N-terminus and ribosomal protein L40 at the is_associated_with::C-terminus, a C-terminal extension protein (CEP). Multiple processed pseudogenes derived from this gene are present in the genome.

Clinical significance
The cell's ribosomal protein L40 (rpL40), a part of the large is_associated_with::60S subunit. rpL40 is used by certain is_associated_with::RNA viruses to translate messenger RNAs (mRNAs) into proteins while few host mRNAs require rpL40. Hence targeting this protein may provide a means to combat viral infections with minimum side effects to the host.