Drosophila eIF4E paralogs: a paradigm of functional divergence
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 30, 2026

In Vivo Functional Study of Disease-associated Rare Human Variants Using Drosophila
Published on: August 20, 2019
Greco Hernández1, Daniela Ross-Kaschitza2, Julie A Brill3,4
1mRNA and Cancer Laboratory, Subdirección de Investigación Básica, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan; National Institute of Cancer), Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract:
A cardinal factor in the regulation of mRNA life and function is the cap-binding protein eIF4E. eIF4E promotes the recruitment of mRNA to the ribosome during the initiation step of translation, but other activities have been described, including mRNA processing, export, and storage. To perform these functions, eIF4E must associate with the mRNA cap and a number of different eIF4E-interacting proteins (4E-IPs). Thus, eIF4E has evolved as a key interphase between RNA metabolism, gene expression, and development. In Drosophila melanogaster seven genes encode eight eIF4E cognate proteins that have functionally diverged to perform different activities. We review the structure, interactors, biochemistry, and activities of the Drosophila eIF4E paralogs, which represent a paradigm of divergence during metazoan development.
Related Concept Videos
Exon Recombination
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon has three reading...
Gene Duplication and Divergence
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Position-effect Variegation
Cis-regulatory Sequences
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Convergent Evolution

