Predicted to enable double-stranded RNA binding activity and translation initiation factor activity. Predicted to be involved in cytoplasmic translational initiation. Predicted to act upstream of or within translational initiation. Predicted to be located in cytoplasm. Is expressed in several structures, including central nervous system; liver; lung; ovary; and sensory organ. Orthologous to human EIF4A1 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]