Cap binding-independent recruitment of eIF4E to cytoplasmic foci

► eIF4E is a translation factor detected in both active and inactive ribonucleoprotein complexes. ► Residues required for cap recognition are not required for targeting eIF4E to cytoplasmic granules. ► Inhibition of protein synthesis affects the localization of eIF4E mutants that does not recognize the mRNA cap. ► Localization in cytoplasmic granules requires a residue within eIF4E protein-protein interaction domain. ► The domain is different from the translation factor interaction domain.