Translational Regulation of Plant Stress Responses: Mechanisms, Pathways, and Applications in Bioengineering

Understanding how organisms regulate protein translation in response to stress is vital for both fundamental biology and biotechnological innovation. However, our knowledge of this area remains limited due to the inherent complexity of the translational regulatory process. Recent advances in multiomics and single-molecule technologies now allow for an integrated analysis of the multilayered regulation of translation in plants in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this review, we provide essential background information for newcomers to the field and synthesize recent discoveries in stress-induced translation into the following key areas: mRNA features (cap, Kozak sequence, uAUGs and uORFs, secondary structures, modifications, alternative splicing, small RNAs), ribosomal biogenesis and heterogeneity, tRNA and codon usage, master translation regulatory factors, spatial dynamics of translation, tools for studying translation regulation, and translational engineering for crop resilience. In assembling this review, we also uncovered significant knowledge gaps that represent exciting opportunities for future research.