Function
Eukaryotic initiation factors or Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (EIF) are involved in the initiation of protein translation. They form a complex with the small subunit of the ribosome and Met-tRNA which scans the mRNA and recognizes the initiation codon AUG[1].
- EIF1 is implicated in the stringency of start codon selection[2].
- EIF2 binds GTP and Met-tRNA and transfers Met-tRNA to the ribosomal 40S subunit[3].
- EIF3 attaches to the 5'-terminal regions mRNA and scan along it to the initiation codon[4].
- EIF4 recognizes the m7GpppN cap structure at the 5'-terminal of mRNA[5]. For details see C-terminal portion of human eIF4GI.
- EIF5 is implicated in the stringency of start codon selection[6].
- EIF6 is involved in maturation and/or export from the nucleus of the 60S ribosomal subunit[7].
Disease
Overexpression of individual subunits of eIF3 may cause malignant transformation [8]. Overexpression of eIF4g is implicated in breast cancer.
Structural insights
EIF domains include the N terminal domain (NTD), C terminal domain (CTD), RNA recognition domain, middle domain, PAZ domain of EIF2C and a protein-protein interaction domain (PCI) of EIF3.
- . Water molecules shown as red spheres.
3D structures of eukaryotic initiation factor
Eukaryotic initiation factor 3D structures