RPL22 links ribosome biogenesis, RNA splicing, and sensitivity to RNA polymerase I inhibition.

In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Fan et al.1 identify that mutations in the ribosomal protein RPL22 confer sensitivity to RNA polymerase I inhibitors. RPL22 regulates MDM4 function and cell death via splicing of the MDM4 mRNA. These findings connect ribosome biogenesis with RNA splicing through RPL22.