A Cap for Every Occasion: Alternative eIF4F Complexes.

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) has become essentially synonymous with 5' cap-dependent mRNA translation. Recent studies demonstrate that cells assemble variants of eIF4F to produce adaptive, cap-dependent translatomes during physiological conditions that inhibit eIF4F. These findings challenge us to reassess classical perceptions of cellular translational pathways.