Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 5A (eIF5A)

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is a highly conserved, essential protein that functions primarily as an elongation factor during protein synthesis. It promotes translation elongation by facilitating peptide bond formation, especially at ribosomal stalls caused by certain amino acid sequences such as polyproline stretches. eIF5A also stimulates translation termination. A unique feature is the presence of hypusine, an unusual amino acid formed post-translationally from lysine and essential for its function. Germline deleterious heterozygous variants in EIF5A cause Faundes-Banka syndrome. It is also closely associated with cell proliferation and highly expressed in tumor cells, and acts as a cofactor for HIV Rev protein function.

Other names

EIF5A

Stabilizes peptidyl-tRNA; resolves stalled ribosomes