Required for the assembly and/or stability of the 40S ribosomal subunit. Required for the processing of the 20S rRNA-precursor to mature 18S rRNA in a late step of the maturation of 40S ribosomal subunits. Component of the small ribosomal subunit. Mature ribosomes consist of a small (40S) and a large (60S) subunit. The 40S subunit contains about 33 different proteins and 1 molecule of RNA (18S). The 60S subunit contains about 49 different proteins and 3 molecules of RNA (28S, 5.8S and 5S). Interacts with ribosomal protein S21. Belongs to the universal ribosomal protein uS2 family.