Update on translational control modes in plant cell signaling

Protein synthesis can contribute to plant cell signaling at multiple regulatory levels. Recent studies have expanded the conditions that are directly impacted by translational regulation. This control can balance responses to developmental, environmental, and diverse stress stimuli. Processes with evidence of translational regulation include: immunity to bacterial pathogens, symbiotic interactions, abiotic responses, hormonal perception, light-dependent metabolism, and developmental programs for lateral root initiation, root hair growth, and sepal initiation. Translational control modes rely on the sequence and secondary structure of mRNAs due to the presence of upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and/or internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), protein-binding regions or structures, and the decoding of the epitranscriptomic mRNA modifications such as N⁶-methyladenosine, N⁴-acetylcytidine or pseudouridine. In addition, the post-translational modification of ribosomal proteins and eukaryotic initiation factors such as eIF4G, eIFiso4G, eIF2, as well as changes in ribosome protein composition contribute to translational control. These factors, mRNAs, regulatory proteins and other RNAs can be confined by the formation of biomolecular condensates such as stress granules, processing bodies and others, resulting in paths that modulate translation both globally and specifically. The covered topics place translation as a hub for cell responses during development and within the environmental context. Current understanding of translation has allowed the development of applications in crops, reinforcing the relevance of the study of translational control in plants.