RACK1 research - ships passing in the night?

It should not be surprising that a protein with a name like RACK1 - short for receptor for activated C kinase 1 - is found in a variety of signaling complexes. Its alternative name, the splendidly unmemorable GNB2L1 - short for guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-2-like 1 - should reinforce this link to signaling complexes. There are currently over 400 publications listed in PubMed mentioning RACK1/GNB2L1 in the abstract, so it is certainly an actively studied protein with much involvement in different aspects of cell regulation being reported. RACK1 binds to the 40S ribosomal subunit, suggesting it links cell regulation and translation. It is also a target of intracellular parasites. And yet does this protein have the profile that it should? And why are there two kinds of RACK1 researcher who do not seem to communicate well? (C) 2012 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.