Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 4G1 (EIF4G1)

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 1 is a component of the protein complex EIF4F, which is involved in the recognition of the mRNA cap, ATP-dependent unwinding of 5'-terminal secondary structure, and recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome. Alternative splicing results in five transcript variants encoding four distinct isoforms. The complex of eIF4A, eIF4E, and eIF4-gamma has been referred to as either eIF4F or eIF4. Collectively, these factors facilitate the recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome, which is the rate-limiting step for protein synthesis under normal conditions. eIF4-gamma is the target for proteolytic cleavage during picornavirus infection, an event that is thought to be responsible for the inhibition of host cellular mRNA translation.