This family is made up of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit 7 (eIF-3 zeta/eIF3 p66/eIF3d). Eukaryotic initiation factor 3 is a multi-subunit complex that is required for binding of mRNA to 40 S ribosomal subunits, stabilisation of ternary complex binding to 40 S subunits, and dissociation of 40 and 60 S subunits. These functions and the complex nature of eIF3 suggest multiple interactions with many components of the translational machinery [1]. The gene coding for the protein has been implicated in cancer in mammals [2].

1: Plant initiation factor 3 subunit composition resembles mammalian initiation factor 3 and has a novel subunit. Burks EA, Bezerra PP, Le H, Gallie DR, Browning KS; J Biol Chem 2001;276:2122-2131. PMID:11042177

2: Amplification of EIF3S3 gene is associated with advanced stage in prostate cancer. Saramaki O, Willi N, Bratt O, Gasser TC, Koivisto P, Nupponen NN, Bubendorf L, Visakorpi T; Am J Pathol 2001;159:2089-2094. PMID:11733359

3: Sequence, structure and functional diversity of PD-(D/E)XK phosphodiesterase superfamily. Steczkiewicz K, Muszewska A, Knizewski L, Rychlewski L, Ginalski K; Nucleic Acids Res. 2012;40:7016-7045. PMID:22638584