EIF3A

EIF3A (Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 3 Subunit A) is a Protein Coding gene. Diseases associated with EIF3A include Bardet-Biedl Syndrome. Among its related pathways are Activation of the mRNA upon binding of the cap-binding complex and eIFs, and subsequent binding to 43S and Viral mRNA Translation. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations related to this gene include translation initiation factor activity.

Full Name

Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 3 Subunit A

Research Area

RNA-binding component of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF-3) complex, which is required for several steps in the initiation of protein synthesis (PubMed:17581632, PubMed:25849773).

The eIF-3 complex associates with the 40S ribosome and facilitates the recruitment of eIF-1, eIF-1A, eIF-2:GTP:methionyl-tRNAi and eIF-5 to form the 43S pre-initiation complex (43S PIC). The eIF-3 complex stimulates mRNA recruitment to the 43S PIC and scanning of the mRNA for AUG recognition. The eIF-3 complex is also required for disassembly and recycling of post-termination ribosomal complexes and subsequently prevents premature joining of the 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits prior to initiation (PubMed:17581632, PubMed:11169732).

The eIF-3 complex specifically targets and initiates translation of a subset of mRNAs involved in cell proliferation, including cell cycling, differentiation and apoptosis, and uses different modes of RNA stem-loop binding to exert either translational activation or repression (PubMed:25849773, PubMed:27462815).

(Microbial infection) Essential for the initiation of translation on type-1 viral ribosomal entry sites (IRESs), like for HCV, PV, EV71 or BEV translation (PubMed:23766293, PubMed:24357634).

(Microbial infection) In case of FCV infection, plays a role in the ribosomal termination-reinitiation event leading to the translation of VP2 (PubMed:18056426).

Biological Process

Formation of cytoplasmic translation initiation complex Source: UniProtKB
IRES-dependent viral translational initiation Source: UniProtKB
Negative regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade Source: Ensembl
Translational initiation Source: UniProtKB
Translation reinitiation Source: GO_Central
Viral translational termination-reinitiation Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm

PTM

Phosphorylated. Phosphorylation is enhanced upon serum stimulation.