核糖体蛋白质（Ribosomal Protein，简称“核糖体蛋白”或“RP”）是参与构成核糖体的所有蛋白质的统称。由于核糖体蛋白质需要高浓度的盐溶液和强解离剂（如含高浓度Mg2+的67%的CH₃COOH或3mol/L LiCl~4mol/L (NH₂)₂CO）才能将其分离<ref name =Jinxian Luo>罗进贤. 分子生物学引论. 广东: 中山大学出版社. 1987年11月第一版，1987年11月第一次印刷: 300. ISBN 13339·21 请检查|isbn=值 (帮助). 请检查|date=中的日期值 (帮助); 使用|accessdate=需要含有|url= (帮助)</ref>，所以这类蛋白质相对于“核糖体相关蛋白质”也被称为“真核糖体蛋白质”。 因为在核糖体自组装过程中，这类蛋白质逐批与rRNA结合形成核糖体的大、小亚基，所以这些蛋白质又按与rRNA结合的顺序分为“初级结合蛋白”、“次级结合蛋白”与“迟结合蛋白”等几组。 当前，对核糖体蛋白质的了解主要来自对大肠杆菌（E. coli）核糖体的研究。大肠杆菌的大多数核糖体蛋白质已应用双向聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术进行分级分离<ref name =Jinxian Luo/>、测定了一级结构并研发出针对它们的特异性抗体。以上成果及电子显微镜的应用为进一步研究核糖体中各蛋白质的构型提供了可能。 研究表明:

A ribosomal protein is any of the proteins that, in conjunction with rRNA, make up the ribosomal subunits involved in the cellular process of translation. A large part of the knowledge about these organic molecules has come from the study of E. coli ribosomes. All ribosomal proteins have been isolated and many specific antibodies have been produced. These, together with electronic microscopy and the use of certain reactives, have allowed for the determination of the topography of the proteins in the ribosome. E.coli, other bacteria and Archaea have a 30S small subunit and a 50S large subunit, whereas humans and yeasts have a 40S small subunit and a 60S large subunit. Equivalent subunits are frequently numbered differently between bacteria, Archaea, yeasts and humans. More recently, a near-complete (near)atomic picture of the ribosomal proteins is emerging from the latest high-resolution cryo-EM data (including PDB ID: 5AFI).