Protein translation, 2008

The important role that regulation of protein translation plays in determining longevity in invertebrate organisms became widely appreciated in 2007, with the publication of several papers discussed in last year's review. During 2008, several studies have further strengthened the idea that regulation of translation is one component of a highly evolutionarily conserved pathway that modifies longevity. Importantly, studies published this year also began to provide insights into specific mechanisms by which altered mRNA translation does (and in some cases does not) slow aging in invertebrate model organisms.