4E2RCat prevents the interaction between eIF4E (the cap-binding protein) and eIF4G (a large scaffolding protein), inhibiting cap-dependent translation. It significantly decreases human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) replication, reducing the percentage of infected cells and intra- and extracellular infectious virus titers. 4E2RCat inhibits cap-dependent translation in a dose-dependent manner. 4E2RCat inhibits cap-dependent FF translation but not EMCV IRES-driven Ren translation. 4E2RCat inhibits coronavirus replication in a dose- and time-dependent manner[1].

4E2RCat inhibits protein synthesis in vivo and it is not a consequence of increased cell death[1].