RNA biology in aging: Splicing, RNA modifications, and translational control

The field of RNA biology has become increasingly significant in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underpin aging. Recent evidence suggests that diverse RNA processing events - including alternative splicing, RNA modifications, and translation - play vital roles in tailoring gene expression profiles as organisms age. Despite this, many questions remain about how the disruption of post-transcriptional processes contributes to the decline of cellular function and tissue integrity during aging. Key studies have demonstrated that perturbations in RNA regulatory networks may drive proteostatic imbalance, reduced cellular adaptability, and the emergence of age-associated diseases. However, debate continues regarding the causality of these changes, the precise molecular pathways involved, and whether these processes can be leveraged to promote healthy aging.A growing body of literature highlights how the fidelity of alternative splicing decreases with advancing age, leading to aberrant or dysfunctional protein isoforms that impact cellular resilience and stress responses. Similarly, the discovery of dynamic and reversible chemical modifications to RNA - collectively termed the ‘epitranscriptome’ - has exposed another layer of regulation that influences RNA stability, localization, and translation. Altered patterns of these modifications have been linked to age-related changes in gene expression and protein synthesis, with implications for cellular metabolism and survival. Moreover, pathways regulating the initiation and efficiency of translation, such as mTOR and eIF2α signaling, are now recognized as central nodes connecting nutrient sensing and proteostasis with longevity. Despite these advances, an integrated view of how splicing, RNA modifications, and translational control collectively regulate aging is still lacking, and key mechanistic and therapeutic targets remain to be identified.This Research Topic aims to illuminate the complex landscape of post-transcriptional gene regulation and its impact on aging. By fostering multidisciplinary studies, it seeks to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which splicing, RNA modifications, and translational control intersect to drive age-related cellular and tissue changes. The goal is to identify crucial nodes in RNA regulatory pathways that could offer new intervention points for the promotion of healthspan and the prevention or treatment of age-associated pathologies.This Research Topic is focused on mechanistic, experimental, and translational research into RNA biology in aging, while limiting its scope to post-transcriptional regulatory processes and their molecular and cellular consequences. To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Age-associated changes in alternative splicing and splicing factor networks- Roles of RNA modifications (such as m6A) in aging and age-related diseases- Mechanisms of translational control during aging, including mTOR signaling and stress responses- The interplay between defects in RNA processing and proteostasis in aging cells- Therapeutic strategies targeting RNA regulatory pathways for age-related dysfunction- Systems biology approaches to post-transcriptional regulation during aging- Integration of RNA biology with other hallmarks of aging Topic editors: Huanfa Gong, Tao Huang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81641/rna-biology-in-aging-splicing-rna-modifications-and-translational-control