We discuss novel insight into the role and consequences of the phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α in the context of stress responses and cell-cycle regulation. eIF2α is centrally located to regulate translation and its phosphorylation in response to different environmental challenges is one of the best characterized stress-response pathways. In addition to its role in stress management, eIF2α phosphorylation is also linked to cell-cycle progression and memory consolidation in the nervous system. The best known consequences of eIF2α phosphorylation are downregulation of global translation and stimulation of translation of some mRNAs. However, recent evidence shows that (i) eIF2α phosphorylation is not always required for the downregulation of global translation after exposure to stress and (ii) eIF2α phosphorylation does not necessarily lead to the downregulation of global translation. These results suggest that the textbook view of eIF2α phosphorylation needs to be revised and that there must be additional regulatory mechanisms at play.

中文翻译：

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eIF2α磷酸化和翻译的调控。

我们讨论在应激反应和细胞周期调控的背景下，翻译起始因子eIF2α磷酸化的作用和后果的新颖见解。eIF2α位于调节转录的中心位置，其对不同环境挑战的磷酸化作用是最有特色的应激反应途径之一。除了在压力管理中的作用外，eIF2α磷酸化还与神经系统的细胞周期进程和记忆巩固有关。eIF2α磷酸化的最著名的后果是下调整体翻译和刺激某些mRNA的翻译。然而，最近的证据表明（i）暴露于压力后，总翻译的下调并不总是需要eIF2α磷酸化；（ii）eIF2α的磷酸化不一定导致总翻译的下调。这些结果表明，eIF2α磷酸化的教科书观点需要修订，并且必须发挥其他调节机制。