Ribosome Biogenesis and Cancer: Overview on Ribosomal Proteins

Abstract

Cytosolic ribosomes (cytoribosomes) are macromolecular ribonucleoprotein complexes that are assembled from ribosomal RNA and ribosomal proteins, which are essential for protein biosynthesis. Mitochondrial ribosomes (mitoribosomes) perform translation of the proteins essential for the oxidative phosphorylation system. The biogenesis of cytoribosomes and mitoribosomes includes ribosomal RNA processing, modification and binding to ribosomal proteins and is assisted by numerous biogenesis factors. This is a major energy-consuming process in the cell and, therefore, is highly coordinated and sensitive to several cellular stressors. In mitochondria, the regulation of mitoribosome biogenesis is essential for cellular respiration, a process linked to cell growth and proliferation. This review briefly overviews the key stages of cytosolic and mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis; summarizes the main steps of ribosome biogenesis alterations occurring during tumorigenesis, highlighting the changes in the expression level of cytosolic ribosomal proteins (CRPs) and mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) in different types of tumors; focuses on the currently available information regarding the extra-ribosomal functions of CRPs and MRPs correlated to cancer; and discusses the role of CRPs and MRPs as biomarkers and/or molecular targets in cancer treatment.

Keywords: cancer; cancer treatment; mitochondrial ribosomal proteins; mitoribosome biogenesis; ribosomal proteins; ribosome biogenesis.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of cytosolic and mitochondrial ribosome biogenesis.

Figure 2

Role of ribosome free RPs in cancer.

Figure 3

Strategies of RP-based gene therapy. (A) Polymeric nanoparticles with a core of PLGA and a polymer shell of HA and PEI as platform to deliver the 5-FU and the pro-apoptotic protein uL3. (B) Bicistronic adenovirus expressing both the uL14 and p53 genes (Ad-uL14/p53).