Diverse mechanisms of translation regulation and their role in cancer

Translation is a highly regulated multistep process that involves the recruitment of an mRNA to a ribosome and its translation by aminoacyl-tRNAs (aa-tRNA) into a polypeptide. Regulation can occur at any of the four stages of translation (initiation, elongation, termination, and ribosome recycling), and can be directed at the level of mRNA, translation factors, or the ribosome. In this chapter, we will review the diverse approaches the cell uses to regulate protein synthesis. Translation efficiency can be affected by mRNA sequence and structure elements, mRNA availability to the translation machinery, regulation of translation factor activity and availability, and regulation through changes in ribosome number and activity. We will also discuss how the translation machinery can be manipulated by cancer cells to promote tumorigenesis.