Component of the eRF1-eRF3-GTP ternary complex, a ternary complex that mediates translation termination in response to the termination codons (PubMed:10676813, PubMed:16777602, PubMed:24486019, PubMed:26245381, PubMed:27863242, PubMed:36638793, PubMed:7990965). The eRF1-eRF3-GTP complex binds to a stop codon in the ribosomal A-site (PubMed:26245381, PubMed:27863242, PubMed:36638793). ETF1/ERF1 is responsible for stop codon recognition and inducing hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA (PubMed:26245381, PubMed:27863242, PubMed:36638793). Following GTP hydrolysis, eRF3 (GSPT1/ERF3A or GSPT2/ERF3B) dissociates, permitting ETF1/eRF1 to accommodate fully in the A-site and mediate hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA (PubMed:10676813, PubMed:16777602, PubMed:26245381, PubMed:27863242). Component of the transient SURF complex which recruits UPF1 to stalled ribosomes in the context of nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) of mRNAs containing premature stop codons (PubMed:19417104). Required for SHFL-mediated translation termination which inhibits programmed ribosomal frameshifting (-1PRF) of mRNA from viruses and cellular genes (PubMed:30682371).
