Initiation factor protein modifications and inhibition of protein synthesis

The protein covalent modification state of eucaryotic initiation factors eIF-2 and eIF-4B in HeLa cells was examined after they were exposed to a variety of conditions or treatments that regulate protein synthesis. A few factors (e.g., variant pH and sodium fluoride) altered the phosphorylation state of the initiation factor proteins, but the majority (hypertonic medium, ethanol, dimethyl sulfoxide sodium selenite, sodium azide, and colchicine) had no effect on either protein. While initiation factor phosphorylation may regulate protein synthesis in response to many physiological situations, other pathways can regulate protein synthesis under nonphysiological circumstances.