Background information
The protein encoded by this gene is a component of the multi-subunit protein complex EIF4F. This complex facilitates the recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome, which is a rate-limiting step during the initiation phase of protein synthesis. The recognition of the mRNA cap and the ATP-dependent unwinding of 5'-terminal secondary structure is catalyzed by factors in this complex. The subunit encoded by this gene is a large scaffolding protein that contains binding sites for other members of the EIF4F complex. A domain at its N-terminus can also interact with the poly(A)-binding protein, which may mediate the circularization of mRNA during translation. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, some of which are derived from alternative promoter usage. [provided by RefSeq].eIF4G1 (eukaryotic translation Initiation Factor 4 Gamma 1) is a component of the protein complex eIF-4 which is involved in the recognition of the mRNA cap ATP-dependent unwinding of the 5'-terminal secondary structure and recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome. eIF4G plays a critical role in protein expression and is at the center of a complex regulatory network. Together with the cap-binding protein eIF4E, it recruits the small ribosomal subunit to the 5'-end of mRNA and promotes the assembly of a functional translation initiation complex which scans along the mRNA to the translation start codon. Human eIF4G contains three consecutive HEAT domains, as well as long unstructured regions involved in multiple protein-protein interactions. The interactions of eIF4G1 with other factors are largely unknown.
