EIF4E (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E) is a key protein encoded by the EIF4E gene in human cells, whose functions cover multiple biological processes from protein synthesis to tumorigenesis. This protein plays a crucial role in the translation regulation of eukaryotic cells as an mRNA cap structure binding protein. EIF4E, as an important component of eIF4F complex, specifically recognizes and binds to the 7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap structure at the 5 'end of mRNA. This specific binding is a crucial first step in translation initiation, followed by the binding of EIF4E to the scaffold protein EIF4G1, recruiting other translation initiation factors such as EIF4A and EIF3 to form a complete eIF4F complex. It is worth noting that the binding of EIF4E to eIF4G is the rate limiting step in translation initiation, and its regulation directly affects the efficiency of protein synthesis. In addition to its classic role in translation initiation, EIF4E also participates in the nuclear export process of specific mRNAs. EIF4E, as a proto oncogene, its expression and activation are closely related to cell transformation and tumorigenesis.
