EIF2α phosphorylation: a hallmark of both autophagy and immunogenic cell death

Figures & data

Figure 1. Role of eIF2α phosphorylation in various stress pathways.

In addition to its well-known role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress (middle panel), the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (EIF2A, better known as eIF2α) is required for the formation of autophagosomes (right panel) as well as for calreticulin (CALR) exposure in the context of immunogenic cell death (ICD, left panel). Each pathway can be activated by various distinct pharmacological inducers; examples are indicated (top panels). Altogether, these three stress pathways play a major role in the eradication of intracellular pathogens (bottom panels). ATF4, activating transcription factor 4; ERAD endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation; DCs, dendritic cells.