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Published on: March 28, 2018
Translational Recoding in Tumors
Chen Weller1, Osnat Bartok1, Panagiotis Poulis1,2
1Melanoma Immuno-Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Cancer cells alter protein synthesis (translation) through translational recoding, boosting tumor growth and creating targets for immunotherapy. Modulating this process offers new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Protein synthesis is normally tightly regulated.
- In cancer, ribosomes deviate from normal translation, producing altered proteins.
- These changes are driven by internal cell changes and the tumor microenvironment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the causes and effects of translational recoding in cancer.
- To understand its dual role in tumor adaptation and immune response.
- To explore its potential as a therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on translational recoding in cancer.
- Analysis of molecular mechanisms driving altered translation.
- Investigation of the impact of recoding on tumor fitness and immunogenicity.
Main Results:
- Translational recoding expands proteome diversity and enhances cancer cell adaptation.
- Recoding generates tumor-specific antigens, stimulating anti-cancer immune responses.
- Altered translation plays a critical role in tumor progression and immune evasion.
Conclusions:
- Translational recoding is a key feature of cancer, promoting tumor survival and plasticity.
- It presents a "double-edged sword" by aiding cancer growth while also creating immunogenic targets.
- Targeting translational fidelity and inducing recoding are promising strategies for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
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01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
01:31Translation
Lesson: Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life
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Translational regulation in prokaryotes ensures efficient protein synthesis by controlling ribosome access to mRNA. This regulation is mediated by secondary RNA structures, including translational riboswitches, RNA thermometers, and small RNAs (sRNAs), which respond to intracellular and environmental signals to modulate gene expression.Translational RiboswitchesRiboswitches in the leader region of mRNAs can regulate translation by altering the accessibility of the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence,...