From the Research
Eukaryotic Translation Elongation Factor 2 (EEF2) plays a crucial role in protein synthesis and has been implicated in various diseases, including neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases, as evidenced by recent studies such as 1 and 2. The significance of EEF2 can be understood by its function in facilitating the translocation of ribosomes along mRNA during translation, which is essential for protein synthesis. EEF2 requires GTP hydrolysis to power this translocation process, and its activity is primarily regulated through phosphorylation by EEF2 kinase, which inactivates the protein when phosphorylated. Some key points about EEF2 include:
- EEF2 is a critical protein involved in protein synthesis, as shown in studies such as 1 and 2.
- Dysregulation of EEF2 has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, where increased EEF2 activity can promote tumor cell proliferation by enhancing protein synthesis, as discussed in 3 and 4.
- EEF2 is also involved in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases, as suggested by studies such as 5 and 4.
- Recent studies, such as 1 and 2, have identified de novo variants in EEF2 as a cause of neurodevelopmental disorders with benign external hydrocephalus, highlighting the importance of EEF2 in neurological development. In summary, EEF2 is a vital protein involved in protein synthesis, and its dysregulation has been implicated in various diseases, making it a potential target for therapeutic interventions, as supported by recent studies such as 1, 4, and 2.