Phosphorylated eukaryotic translation factor 4E is elevated in Alzheimer brain.

Eukaryotic translation factor 4E (eIF4E) plays a key role in regulating protein translation. It was thought that in order to maintain neuronal functions, tau protein is continuously generated to compensate those being hyperphosphorylated and compromised in its ability to promote and maintain microtubule assembly in Alzheimer's disease. If eIF4E is involved in tau mRNA translation, level of eIF4E phosphorylation should be changed. In the current study, we found a dramatic increase of phosphorylated eIF4E in Alzheimer's disease, especially in those cases with late stages of neurofibrillary changes. Level of eIF4E phosphorylation is significantly correlated with total- and Alzheimer hyperphosphorylated taus. These data suggest that the increase of eIF4E phosphorylation is involved in formation of Alzheimer neurofibrillary changes.