Ribosome dynamics and mRNA turnover, a complex relationship under constant cellular scrutiny

Eukaryotic gene expression is closely regulated by translation and turnover of mRNAs. Recent advances highlight the importance of translation in the control of mRNA degradation, both for aberrant and apparently normal mRNAs. During translation, the information contained in mRNAs is decoded by ribosomes, one codon at a time, and tRNAs, by specifically recognizing codons, translate the nucleotide code into amino acids. Such a decoding step does not process regularly, with various obstacles that can hinder ribosome progression, then leading to ribosome stalling or collisions. The progression of ribosomes is constantly monitored by the cell which has evolved several translation-dependent mRNA surveillance pathways, including nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), no-go decay (NGD), and non-stop decay (NSD), to degrade certain problematic mRNAs and the incomplete protein products. Recent progress in sequencing and ribosome profiling has made it possible to discover new mechanisms controlling ribosome dynamics, with numerous crosstalks between translation and mRNA decay. We discuss here various translation features critical for mRNA decay, with particular focus on current insights from the complexity of the genetic code and also the emerging role for the ribosome as a regulatory hub orchestrating mRNA decay, quality control, and stress signaling. Even if the interplay between mRNA translation and degradation is no longer to be demonstrated, a better understanding of their precise coordination is worthy of further investigation. This article is categorized under: RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes.