Regulation of mRNA decay and translation during the mammalian cell cycle

Abstract

Cell cycle progression requires cells to continually remodel their gene expression programs as they transition through distinct functional states. Although transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms have long dominated our understanding of this regulation, recent work additionally highlights the essential contribution of cell cycle–specific mRNA decay and translational control. Across G₁, S, G₂, and mitosis, cells dynamically modulate global and transcript-specific mRNA stability and translation to coordinate processes including DNA replication, growth, checkpoint signaling, and chromosome segregation. Mitosis presents a particularly striking challenge: Transcription is reduced, necessitating that cells rely on post-transcriptional mechanisms to sustain mitotic functions and preserve viability. In this review, we highlight how these coordinated layers of post-transcriptional regulation collectively contribute to cell cycle control.