Ribosomal protein S27a (RPS27a) can perform extra-ribosomal functions besides imparting a role in ribosome biogenesis and post-translational modifications of proteins. The RPS27a gene has been reported to be over-expressed in breast fibroadenomas, colorectal and renal cancers, advanced-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute leukemia (AL) patients. This study was purposed to explore the function of RPS27a in CML-erythroleukemia cell line K562 cells. RPS27a was silenced by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in K562 cells. Furthermore, the proliferation changes of K562 cells was detected by MTT method after silencing the RPS27a with suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), then the IC50 of K562-sh1/sh2 and K562-scr cells to SAHA was measured. The results indicated that compared with K562-scr cells, the IC50 of K562-sh1/sh2 to SAHA at 24 h and 48 h decreased (P < 0.01); RPS27a silence significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic K562-sh1/sh2 cells after incubation with 1 µmol/L, 2 µmol/L and 5 µmol/L SAHA for 24 h and 48 h as compared with that of K562-scr cells (P < 0.01). K562-sh1, K562-sh2 and K562-scr cells after incubation with or without 2 µmol/L SAHA for 48 h presented apoptosis features: i. e. chromatin condensation, nucleic fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. It is concluded that RPS27a can inhibit the apoptosis of K562 cells and RPS27a silence can potentiate sensitivity of K562 cells to SAHA.