Anti-phospho-Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2, alpha, (Ser51) (eIF2a)

Phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) alpha subunit is a well-documented mechanism to downregulate protein synthesis under a variety of stress conditions. Eukaryotic initiation factor 2 binds GTP and Met-tRNAi and transfers Met-tRNA to the 40S subunit to form the 43S preinitiation complex (1,2). eIF2 promotes a new round of translation initiation by exchanging GDP for GTP, a reaction catalyzed by eIF2B (1,2). Kinases that are activated by viral infection (PKR), endoplasmic reticulum stress (PERK/PEK), amino acid deprivation (GCN2) or heme deficiency (HRI) can phosphorylate the alpha subunit of eIF2 (3,4). This phosphorylation stabilizes the eIF2-GDP-eIF2B complex and inhibits the turnover of eIF2B. Induction of PKR by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha induces potent phosphorylation of eIF2alpha at Ser51 (5,6), Applications: Suitable for use in Western Blot, Immunoprecipitation and Immunohistochemistry. Other applications have not been tested. Recommended Dilutions: Western Blot: 1:1000 , Immunoprecipitation: 1:50 , Immunohistochemistry (Paraffin): 1:50, Optimal dilutions to be determined by the researcher. Storage and Stability: May be stored at 4°C for short-term only. For long-term storage, aliquot and store at -20°C. Aliquots are stable for 12 months at -20°C. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap. Further dilutions can be made in assay buffer.