Translational regulation in stress biology

Abstract

Organisms must constantly respond to stress to maintain homeostasis, and the successful implementation of cellular stress responses is directly linked to lifespan regulation. In this Review we examine how three age-associated stressors—loss of proteostasis, oxidative damage and dysregulated nutrient sensing—alter protein synthesis. We describe how these stressors inflict cellular damage via their effects on translation and how translational changes can serve as both sensors and responses to the stressor. Finally, we compare stress-induced translational programmes to protein synthesis alterations that occur with age and discuss whether these changes are adaptive or deleterious to longevity and healthy ageing. This Review discusses the effects of three age-associated stressors—loss of proteostasis, oxidative damage and dysregulated nutrient sensing—on global protein synthesis and highlights how altered translation is used by the cell as a stress sensor.