EIF3M

This gene encodes a protein that is part of the eurkaryotic translation initiation factor 3 complete (eIF-3) required for protein synthesis. Elevated levels of the encoded protein are present in cancer cell lines. Inactivation of the encoded protein has been shown to interfere with translation of herpes virus mRNAs by preventing the association of mRNAs with the ribosomes. A pseudogene of this gene is located on the X chromosome. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2011]

Full Name

Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 3 Subunit M

Research Area

Component of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF-3) complex, which is required for several steps in the initiation of protein synthesis (PubMed:17403899, PubMed:25849773, PubMed:27462815).

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:17403899).

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).

(Microbial infection) May favor virus entry in case of infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2).

Biological Process

Cytoplasmic translational initiation Source: GO_Central
Formation of cytoplasmic translation initiation complex Source: UniProtKB-UniRule
Translational initiation Source: UniProtKB

Cellular Location

Cytoplasm