HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
Β© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
10 sources retrieved Β· Most recent: April 2026 Β· Index updated 15 days ago
β“˜GeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
EIF2B3
eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B subunit gamma
Chromosome 1 Β· 1p34.1
NCBI Gene: 8891Ensembl: ENSG00000070785.18HGNC: HGNC:3259UniProt: Q9HA31
96PubMed Papers
21Diseases
0Drugs
16Pathogenic Variants
CLINICAL
OMIM Disease Gene
DATA QUALITY
βœ“ Experimental GO Evidenceβœ“ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
positive regulation of translational initiationT cell receptor signaling pathwaycytoplasmprotein bindingCACH syndromeleukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matterleukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 1leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
✦AI Summary

EIF2B3 encodes the gamma subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that catalyzes GDP-to-GTP exchange on the eIF2 complex gamma subunit 123. This exchange is essential for initiating protein synthesis by delivering methionyl-initiator tRNA to the ribosome. The eIF2B complex's activity is negatively regulated when eIF2 alpha subunit becomes phosphorylated, resulting in global translation repression 13. Biallelic EIF2B3 mutations cause vanishing white matter disease (VWM), a severe autosomal recessive leukodystrophy characterized by progressive white matter rarefaction and cerebrospinal fluid replacement 45. Clinical manifestations include ataxia, spasticity, optic atrophy, and cognitive decline 6. EIF2B3 mutations impair oligodendrocyte development and myelin formation 4, with altered protein expression including reduced crystallins and increased proteases 7. Mutant oligodendrocytes demonstrate reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress tolerance due to depressed autophagy flux, contributing to cell apoptosis 8. While most cases present in childhood with rapid progression, rare antenatal-onset cases with mild symptoms and extended survival have been documented 9. Adult-onset EIF2B3 variants occur with female predominance and progressive neurological decline 610.

Sources cited
1
EIF2B3 catalyzes GDP-to-GTP exchange on eIF2 gamma subunit; activity is repressed by eIF2 alpha phosphorylation
PMID: 25858979
2
EIF2B3 functions as component of eIF2B complex catalyzing nucleotide exchange
PMID: 27023709
3
EIF2B3 guanine nucleotide exchange factor activity is repressed by phosphorylated eIF2, limiting translation
PMID: 31048492
4
EIF2B3 mutations cause defects in myelin development, glial cell differentiation, and stress response pathway activation
PMID: 33517449
5
VWM is autosomal recessive leukoencephalopathy caused by mutations in EIF2B1-5 genes; characterized by white matter rarefaction and CSF replacement
PMID: 16998732
6
EIF2B3 mutations alter protein expression including crystallin reduction and protease upregulation
PMID: 33800130
7
Mutant EIF2B3 oligodendrocytes have reduced ER stress tolerance and depressed autophagy flux
PMID: 26625702
8
Rare antenatal-onset EIF2B3 mutations with mild symptoms and long-term survival documented
PMID: 33687620
9
Adult-onset EIF2B3 pathies show female predominance with cerebellar ataxia, spasticity, and cognitive decline
PMID: 39450483
10
Novel EIF2B3 mutations cause adult-onset vanishing white matter disease
PMID: 22312164
Disease Associationsβ“˜21
CACH syndromeOpen Targets
0.78Strong
leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matterOpen Targets
0.74Strong
leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 1Open Targets
0.70Moderate
leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3Open Targets
0.61Moderate
ovarioleukodystrophyOpen Targets
0.37Weak
congenital or early infantile CACH syndromeOpen Targets
0.37Weak
juvenile or adult CACH syndromeOpen Targets
0.37Weak
late infantile CACH syndromeOpen Targets
0.37Weak
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
biliary tract diseaseOpen Targets
0.14Weak
Alzheimer diseaseOpen Targets
0.12Weak
substance-related disorderOpen Targets
0.11Weak
Blackfan-Diamond anemiaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin - beta-thalassemiaOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin-sickle cell disease syndromeOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
lung cancerOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
inosine triphosphatase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
Abnormal nasolacrimal system morphologyOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
alpha thalassemia-intellectual disability syndrome type 1Open Targets
0.07Suggestive
Alpha-thalassemia - intellectual disability syndrome linked to chromosome 16Open Targets
0.07Suggestive
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3UniProt
Pathogenic Variants16
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.260C>T (p.Ala87Val)Pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease|not provided|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3|EIF2B3-related disorder
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 87
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.272G>A (p.Arg91His)Likely pathogenic
not provided|Vanishing white matter disease|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 91
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.89T>C (p.Val30Ala)Pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 1
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 30
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.674G>A (p.Arg225Gln)Pathogenic
not provided|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 225
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.1037T>C (p.Ile346Thr)Pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3|not provided
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 346
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.673C>T (p.Arg225Trp)Likely pathogenic
not provided|Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3|Vanishing white matter disease
β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†2025β†’ Residue 225
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.266C>A (p.Ser89Tyr)Likely pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2026β†’ Residue 89
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.938_939del (p.Val313fs)Likely pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 313
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.455-2A>GLikely pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.935G>T (p.Arg312Leu)Likely pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 312
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.614A>G (p.Tyr205Cys)Likely pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2024β†’ Residue 205
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.674G>C (p.Arg225Pro)Pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2021β†’ Residue 225
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.503T>C (p.Leu168Pro)Likely pathogenic
Vanishing white matter disease
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2020β†’ Residue 168
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.450del (p.Ala151fs)Likely pathogenic
not provided
β˜…β˜†β˜†β˜†2016β†’ Residue 151
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.80T>A (p.Leu27Gln)Pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†2011β†’ Residue 27
NM_020365.5(EIF2B3):c.1193_1194del (p.Val398fs)Pathogenic
Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter 3
β˜†β˜†β˜†β˜†2002β†’ Residue 398
View on ClinVar β†—
Related Genes
EIF2S2Protein interaction100%EIF2B1Protein interaction92%EIF2S3BProtein interaction92%CDCP2Protein interaction89%TGDSProtein interaction82%OPN3Protein interaction79%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Liver
62%
Brain
59%
Ovary
46%
Lung
42%
Bone Marrow
28%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
EIF2B3EIF2S2EIF2B1EIF2S3BCDCP2TGDSOPN3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB7VLK Β· 2.27 Γ… Β· EM
View on RCSB β†—
Constraintβ“˜
LOEUFβ“˜
0.52Moderately Constrained
pLIβ“˜
0.93Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.36 [0.25–0.52]
RankingsWhere EIF2B3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #4,977of 20,598
    Most Researched96 Β· top quartile
  • #2,401of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants16
  • #3,233of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.52 Β· top quartile
Genes detectedEIF2B3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response timeβ€”
πŸ“„ Sources
10β–Ό
1
Eif2b3 mutants recapitulate phenotypes of vanishing white matter disease and validate novel disease alleles in zebrafish.
PMID: 33517449
Hum Mol Genet Β· 2021
1.00
2
Identification of a Missense Variant in the EIF2B3 Gene Causing Vanishing White Matter Disease with Antenatal-Onset but Mild Symptoms and Long-Term Survival.
PMID: 33687620
J Mol Neurosci Β· 2021
0.90
3
Comparative Proteome Research in a Zebrafish Model for Vanishing White Matter Disease.
PMID: 33800130
Int J Mol Sci Β· 2021
0.80
4
Diagnostic yield of clinical exome sequencing in adulthood in medical genetics clinics.
PMID: 36401557
Am J Med Genet A Β· 2023
0.70
5
The spectrum of mutations for the diagnosis of vanishing white matter disease.
PMID: 16998732
Neurol Sci Β· 2006
0.60