Eukaryotic initiation factor 4A-III （EIF4A3） is a member of the DEAD box helicase family and eIF4A subfamily. DEAD box proteins， distinguished by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp （DEAD）， are putative RNA helicases. These proteins are involved in several cellular processes including alteration of RNA secondary structure， such as translation initiation， nuclear and mitochondrial splicing， and ribosome and spliceosome assembly. EIF4A3 is a part of a splicing-dependent multiprotein exon junction complex （EJC） accumulated at splice junction on mRNAs. Based upon their distribution patterns， some members of the DEAD box helicase family are thought to be involved in embryogenesis， spermatogenesis， and cellular growth and division.
