The C-terminus of ribosomal protein uS4 contributes to small ribosomal subunit biogenesis and the fidelity of translation.

Ribosomal protein uS4 is an essential ribosomal component involved in multiple functions, including mRNA decoding. Structural analyses indicate that during decoding, the interface between the C-terminus of uS4 and protein uS5 is disrupted and in agreement with this, C-terminal uS4 truncation mutants are readily isolated on the basis of their increased miscoding phenotypes. The same mutants can also display defects in small subunit assembly and 16S rRNA processing and some are temperature sensitive for growth.