Protein synthesis from mRNA is an energy-intensive and tightly controlled cellular process. Translation elongation is a well-coordinated, multifactorial step in translation that undergoes dynamic regulation owing to cellular state and environmental determinants. Recent studies involving genome-wide approaches have uncovered some crucial aspects of translation elongation including the mRNA itself and the nascent polypeptide chain. Additionally, these studies have fuelled quantitative and mathematical modelling of translation elongation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the key determinants of translation elongation. We discuss consequences of ribosome stalling or collision, and how the cells regulate translation in case of such events. Next, we review theoretical approaches and widely used mathematical models that have become an essential ingredient to interpret complex molecular datasets and study translation dynamics quantitatively. Finally, we review recent advances in live-cell reporter and related analysis techniques, to monitor the translation dynamics of single cells and single-mRNA molecules in real time.

从 mRNA 合成蛋白质是一个能量密集型且受到严格控制的细胞过程。翻译延伸是翻译中一个协调良好的多因素步骤，由于细胞状态和环境决定因素，它经历动态调节。最近涉及全基因组方法的研究揭示了翻译延伸的一些关键方面，包括 mRNA 本身和新生的多肽链。此外，这些研究推动了翻译延伸的定量和数学建模。在这篇综述中，我们全面概述了翻译延伸的关键决定因素。我们讨论核糖体停滞或碰撞的后果，以及在发生此类事件时细胞如何调节翻译。下一个，我们回顾了理论方法和广泛使用的数学模型，这些模型已成为解释复杂分子数据集和定量研究翻译动力学的重要组成部分。最后，我们回顾了活细胞报告基因和相关分析技术的最新进展，以实时监测单细胞和单 mRNA 分子的翻译动态。