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Traffic control at the molecular scale
Mar 25, 2026
During protein synthesis, ribosomes stall when they encounter damaged mRNA or when cells are depleted of essential factors. Unresolved, stalled ribosomes have the potential to create harmful traffic jams inside the cell. A new study from the Karagöz lab, published in EMBO Journal, reveals how ribosome-associated quality control and UFMylation machinery cooperate to resolve stalled ribosomes at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). By uncovering the mechanistic interplay between these pathways, the researchers explain how cells overcome the physical constraints imposed by membrane-associated translation. Their findings provide an important link between ER proteostasis and ribosome rescue mechanisms.