Predicted to be a structural constituent of ribosome. Predicted to be involved in mitochondrial translation. Predicted to act upstream of or within translation. Located in mitochondrion. Is expressed in several structures, including early conceptus; genitourinary system; hemolymphoid system; liver; and submandibular gland primordium. Orthologous to human MRPL23 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein L23).