Enables eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding activity. Involved in IRES-dependent translational initiation of linear mRNA. Acts upstream of or within cellular response to dexamethasone stimulus; insulin receptor signaling pathway; and negative regulation of translational initiation. Predicted to be located in cytosol and nucleus. Predicted to be part of protein-containing complex. Predicted to be active in cytoplasm. Is expressed in several structures, including central nervous system; oocyte; pancreas tip epithelium; retina; and skeletal musculature. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in lung non-small cell carcinoma. Orthologous to human EIF4EBP1 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]