ATP-dependent RNA helicase which is a subunit of the eIF4F complex involved in cap recognition and is required for mRNA binding to ribosome (PubMed:20156963). In the current model of translation initiation, eIF4A unwinds RNA secondary structures in the 5'-UTR of mRNAs which is necessary to allow efficient binding of the small ribosomal subunit, and subsequent scanning for the initiator codon. As a result, promotes cell proliferation and growth (PubMed:20156963). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:19153607, ECO:0000269|PubMed:19204291, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20156963}. This is the function of EIF4A1 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000161960).