RNA translational control in skeletal development, homeostasis, and disease.

Skeletal development, maintenance, and repair require precise control of protein production, yet mRNA levels often correlate poorly with protein abundance. Translation is the process through which mRNA is converted into protein, but its role in skeletal biology remains much less understood than that of transcriptional regulation. Recent advances in translatomics have begun to reveal how translational regulation contributes to skeletal development, homeostasis, and repair. Here, we summarize translational control across skeletal lineages, developmental stages, and disease settings. We also discuss emerging approaches for studying mRNA translation and potential therapeutic opportunities that target translational pathways. Understanding how translational regulation shapes skeletal health and disease will open new avenues for precise interventions for skeletal defects.