EIF4A3

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-III is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the EIF4A3 is_associated_with::gene.

Function
This gene encodes a member of the is_associated_with::DEAD box protein family. DEAD box proteins, characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), are putative is_associated_with::RNA helicases. They are implicated in a number of cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure, such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and is_associated_with::ribosome and is_associated_with::spliceosome assembly. Based on their distribution patterns, some members of this family are believed to be involved in is_associated_with::embryogenesis, is_associated_with::spermatogenesis, and cellular growth and division. The protein encoded by this gene is a nuclear matrix protein. Its amino acid sequence is highly similar to the amino acid sequences of the translation initiation factors eIF4A-I and eIF4A-II, two other members of the DEAD box protein family.