EIF2A,also named as CDA02,MSTP004 and MSTP089,belongs to the WD repeat EIF2A family. It functions in the early steps of protein synthesis of a small number of specific mRNAs. EIF2A,an alternative initiator tRNA-binding protein,has a key role in the translation of HCV mRNA during HCV infection,in turn promoting eIF2a phosphorylation by activating the eIF2a kinase PKR.