Enables translation initiation factor binding activity. Acts upstream of or within translation. Part of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 complex, eIF3m. Is expressed in several structures, including central nervous system; liver; metanephros; thymus primordium; and upper jaw tooth. Orthologous to human EIF3M (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit M). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]