This gene encodes a subunit of the elongation factor-1 complex, which is responsible for the enzymatic delivery of aminoacyl tRNAs to the ribosome. This subunit, delta, functions as guanine nucleotide exchange factor. It is reported that following HIV-1 infection, this subunit interacts with HIV-1 Tat. This interaction results in repression of translation of host cell proteins and enhanced translation of viral proteins. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been found for this gene. Related pseudogenes have been defined on chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 19.[provided by RefSeq, Aug 2010]