Genes for 5’mRNA cap binding proteins, eif4ea and eif4eb, have alternative roles during heart regeneration

The paradigm in this research preprint about heart regeneration centers around the translation initiation factors and their impact on regenerative processes. Specifically, the role of eif4e1c, a cap-binding protein unique to fish, is investigated in relation to its canonical counterparts eif4ea and eif4eb.

This preprint falls under the "Normal Science" classification. It operates within the existing paradigm of molecular biology and developmental biology, specifically focusing on the well-established mechanism of translation initiation and its role in cellular processes like growth and regeneration. It uses standard molecular biology techniques (such as gene knockouts) to study the compensatory mechanisms within this pathway. The research aims to clarify the specific functions and interactions of proteins within an established system, rather than proposing a radical shift in understanding heart regeneration. The research does not challenge the existing paradigm directly. Although some of the observations (like the survival of canonical knockouts and contrasting effects of the proteins on heart vs. fin regeneration) are unexpected, the research does not offer radically novel conceptual interpretations to explain these results. Instead, the study interprets its findings within the context of the current paradigm, acknowledging that a deeper understanding of the regulatory dynamics may be necessary to fully explain the observations. Hence, it is continuing its research in this domain.