Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 (eIF4) and p70S6K play critical roles in translational regulation. The signaling pathway that regulates p70S6k also regulates the phosphorylation of 4E-binding protein (4EBP1), although there appears to be a bifurcation in the pathway upstream of p70S6K and 4EBP1. Recruitment of mRNAs to ribosomes to initiate translation is mediated by initiation factors of the eIF4 group and PABP. The eIF4 group includes: 1) eIF4A - an RNA helicase, 2) eIF4B - an RNA binding protein that stimulates eIF4A, 3) eIF4E - a cap binding protein, and 4) eIF4γ - the central organizing protein that colocalizes eIF4E, eIF4A, eIF3, PABP, MNK1 and RNA in the 48S initiation complex.Several stimuli including growth factors and cytokines regulate the eIF4 complex and p70S6K by initiating a phosphorylation cascade involving the sequential activation of PI3K, PDK1, AKT and mTOR...