This gene encodes a eukaryotic translation initiation factor that catalyzes the formation of puromycin-sensitive 80 S preinitiation complexes and the poly(U)- directed synthesis of polyphenylalanine at low concentrations of Mg2+. This gene should not be confused with eIF2-alpha (EIF2S1, Gene ID: 1965), the alpha subunit of the eIF2 translation initiation complex. Although both of these proteins function in binding initiator tRNA to the 40 S ribosomal subunit, the encoded protein does so in a codon-dependent manner, whereas eIF2 complex requires GTP. Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.