It could also be because they are seeing the ATF4 pathway light up (seaching for keys under the lamppost) and there's some side pathway that is molecule-specifi

It could also be because they are seeing the ATF4 pathway light up (seaching for keys under the lamppost) and there's some side pathway that is molecule-specific, that is synergistic for the molecule's mechanism of action. just playing devil's advocate for the paper -- I happen to agree with witty's original comment thesis (except for the argument based on the authority of the journal it was published in)