This entry represents eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 1 (EIF4G1), which is a component of the eIF4F complex. The eIF4F complex is required for recognition of the mRNA cap, ATP-dependent unwinding of 5'-terminal secondary structure and recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome. Mitogen-activated protein kinases control translation by post-translational modification of translation initiation factors, and eIF4G1 is a substrate for protein kinase C []. As part of the eIF4F complex, EIF4G1 mediates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced ATF4 (a master stress-induced transcription factor) mRNA translation []. Mutations in the EIF4G1 gene cause Parkinson disease 18, which is a neurodegenerative disorder with the following symptoms: bradykinesia, resting tremor, muscular rigidity and postural instability, and loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra []. Viral infection can lead to the shutdown of translation by cleavage of EIF4G1, for example, by HIV-1 retropepsin [], rhinovirus picornain 2A []and foot-and-mouth disease virus L-peptidase [].
