eIF2B5 is one of five subunits of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B). eIF2B5 functions as a GTP exchange factor for eukaryotic initiation factor 2 and an essential regulator for protein synthesis. Mutations in the EIF2B5 gene and the genes encoding other EIF2B subunits have been associated with leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM) [taken from NCBI Entrez Gene (GeneID: 8893)].