Figure 4. The translation initiation factor 2-alpha subunit (eIF2α) is phosphorylated upon temperature and acidic pH stress and during promastigote to amastigote differentiation.

L. infantum promastigotes (Pro) (no stress) or promastigotes exposed to elevated temperature (37°C) or to a combined temperature and low pH (pH 5.5) stress for 4, 5 and 8 hours (A) or axenic amastigotes (Ama) and or amastigotes subjected to promastigote differentiation (B) were lysed and whole-cell lysates were used in immunoblots with a rabbit polyclonal anti-eIF2α [pS51] phosphospecific antibody (eIF2α-P) to detect eIF2α phosphorylation. Protein loading was monitored using an anti-Leishmania specific eIF2α antibody described in [27].