Requires L15 for assembly into the 50S subunit. Part of the 50S ribosomal subunit (Ref.1, PubMed:10094780, PubMed:12809609, PubMed:16272117, PubMed:25310980, PubMed:24844575, PubMed:27934701, PubMed:27906160, PubMed:27906161). Contacts protein L32 (PubMed:2665813). Belongs to the bacterial ribosomal protein bL17 family.