Roles of the Translation Initiation Factor eIF2α Phosphorylation in Cell Structure and Function

It is often assumed that alpha-subunit phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) complex is just a mechanism to control protein synthesis. However, eIF2 alpha phosphorylation induced by multiple kinases can recognize various intracellular and extracellular stress conditions, and it is involved in various other cellular processes beyond protein synthesis. This review introduces the roles of eIF2 alpha phosphorylation in translational regulation, the generation of reactive oxygen species, changes in mitochondria structure and shape, and mitochondrial retrograde signaling pathways in response to diverse stress conditions.