Translation initiation is mediated by specific recognition of the cap structure by eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4F (eIF4F), which is a cap binding protein complex that consists of three subunits: eIF4A, eIF4E and eIF4G.The protein encoded by this gene shares similarity with the C-terminal region of eIF4G that contains the binding sites for eIF4A and eIF3, eIF4G, in addition, contains a binding site for eIF4E at the N-terminus.Unlike eIF4G, which supports cap-dependent and independent translation, this gene product functions as a general repressor of translation by forming translationally inactive complexes.In vitro and in vivo studies indicate that translation of this mRNA initiates exclusively at a non-AUG (GUG) codon.Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms of this gene have been described.[provided by RefSeq]