Moonlighting translation factors: multifunctionality drives diverse gene regulation

Translation factors have traditionally been viewed as proteins that drive ribosome function and ensure accurate mRNA translation. Recent discoveries have highlighted that these factors can also moonlight in gene regulation, but through functions distinct from their canonical roles in protein synthesis. Notably, the additional functions that translation factors encode are diverse, ranging from transcriptional control and extracellular signaling to RNA binding, and are highly regulated in response to external cues and the intrinsic cellular state. Thus, this multifunctionality of translation factors provides an additional mechanism for exquisite control of gene expression.

Automated summary

Translation factors not only play a role in protein synthesis, but also have additional functions in gene regulation, such as transcriptional control and extracellular signaling. These functions are highly regulated in response to external cues and the intrinsic cellular state, providing an additional mechanism for precise control of gene expression.