EIF3S2 is the largest of the EIFs. It consists of at least 10 nonidentical subunits in mammals. In S. cerevisiae the p39 subunit contains WD repeats; these are thought to mediate protein-protein interactions. The p39 protein appears to be essential for maintaining the integrity of the yeast EIF3 complex. The mammalian EIF3-p36 subunit is homologous to yeast p39.
[1] "Conservation and diversity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF3."Asano K., Kinzy T.G., Merrick W.C., Hershey J.W.B.J. Biol. Chem. 272:1101-1109(1997) [2] "A WD-domain protein that is associated with and phosphorylated