Ribosomes, the organelles that catalyze protein synthesis, are composed of a small subunit (40S) and a large subunit (60S) that consist of over 80 distinct ribosomal proteins. Mammalian ribosomal proteins are encoded by multigene families that contain processed pseudogenes and one functional intron-containing gene within their coding regions. Ribosomal Protein L17, also known as RPL17, rpL23, PD-1 or 60S Ribosomal protein L17, is a 184 amino acid protein that is expressed in pancreas, lung, colon, cystic duct, gall bladder, kidney and liver and belongs to the ribosomal protein L22P family. Localized to the cytoplasm, it has been suggested that Ribosomal protein L17 may influence sexual differentiation of Area X and RA, potentially regulating the genesis and/or survival of neurons of juvenile zebra finches.