Protein synthesis is the cornerstone for cells to exert their biological activities. The proper activities and homeostasis of cells is crucial for organisms. Cells have evolved various regulatory mechanisms to deal with internal/external stimuli and adapt to environmental changes. Of note, ribosome-associated quality control is essential for cell homeostasis and activities. In addition to the translation mechanism, the studies about ribosomes focus more on the topics that ribosomes can monitor the abnormal protein synthesis and diminish the effects of protein synthesis errors on cell homeostasis. These hot topics involve antiviral activities, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancers. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of ribosome-associated quality control, which deal with protein degradation and disorders, and gives new insights into relationships between ribosome-associated quality control and the related diseases.
