EEF2

Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 (EEF2), alias EF-2, is critical for eukaryotic protein translation elongation. It catalyzes ribosome translocation along mRNA via GTP hydrolysis. Regulated by phosphorylation: EEF2 kinase (EEF2K) phosphorylates Thr56 to inhibit EEF2, while the mTOR pathway downregulates EEF2K, activating EEF2.
Dysregulation of EEF2 links to cancer—its overactivation fuels uncontrolled protein synthesis for tumor proliferation—and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, where impaired translation affects neurons. EEF2K inhibitors (e.g., A-484954) are preclinically studied as anticancer agents, targeting the mTOR-EEF2 axis to suppress tumor growth.