RNA helicase EIF4A1-mediated translation is essential for the GC response

EIF4A1 and cofactors EIF4B and EIF4H have been well characterised in cancers, including B cell malignancies, for their ability to promote the translation of oncogenes with structured 5’ untranslated regions. However, very little is known of their roles in non-malignant cells. Using mouse models to delete Eif4a1, Eif4b or Eif4h in B cells we show that EIF4A1, but not EIF4B or EIF4H, is essential for B cell development and the germinal centre response. Following B cell activation in vitro, EIF4A1 facilitates an increased rate of protein synthesis, MYC expression and expression of cell cycle regulators. However, EIF4A1-deficient cells remain viable whereas inhibition of EIF4A1 and EIF4A2 by Hippuristanol treatment induces cell death.