Phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of plant eukaryotic initiation factor 2 prevents its association with polysomes but does not considerably suppress protein synthesis

•Phosphomimetic and unphosphorylatable versions of AteIF2α expressed in N. benthamiana.•Expression of phosphomimetic AteIF2α causes small reduction in polysomes.•Expression of unphosphorylatable AteIF2α causes small increase in polysomes.•Phosphomimetic AteIF2α does not associate with polysomes.•Phosphorylation of plant eIF2α does not result in strong suppression of translation.