Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 1AY (EIF1AY)

EIF1AY encodes a protein similar to eukaryotic translation initiation factor 1A (EIF1A). EIF1A is required for the binding of the 43S complex (a 40S subunit, eIF2/GTP/Met-tRNAi and eIF3) to the 5' end of capped RNA

EIF1AX is an essential translation initiation factor. By searching for genes located in the nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome (NRY), Lahn and Page (1997) isolated testis cDNAs encoding EIF1AY, a Y-linked EIF1A homolog. They identified EIF1AY as 1 of 5 NRY genes that are expressed in many tissues and have homologs on the X chromosome that escape X inactivation. By analysis of a panel of partial Y chromosomes, Lahn and Page (1997) mapped the EIF1AY gene to region 5Q on the long arm of the human Y chromosome.