The binding of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) to enhancers of mesenchymal factors and amino acid deprivation-responsive genes promotes the loss of epithelial characteristics and the acquisition of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)-signaling-associated mesenchymal traits, further enhancing lung cancer cell metastasis (Lin et al., 2024). The gene discussed is ATF4; the disease is lung carcinoma.