Acts as a non-essential regulatory component of the translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2-B or GCD complex), which catalyzes the exchange of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2)-bound GDP for GTP and is regulated by phosphorylated eIF-2 (PubMed:8506384, PubMed:9472020). It activates the translation of GCN4 in response to low amino acid, carbon, or purine availability, by suppressing the inhibitory effects of multiple uORFs present in the leader of GCN4 mRNA (PubMed:10733573). It may promote either repression or activation of GCN4 expression depending on amino acid availability (PubMed:8506384). Modulation of GCN3 regulatory function in response to amino acid availability occurs post-translationally (PubMed:8506384, PubMed:9472020). Translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2-B) is composed of five different subunits; alpha (GCN3), beta (GCD7), gamma (GCD1), delta (GCD2) and epsilon (GCD6). A regulatory subcomplex comprising GCN3, GCD7 and GCD2 interacts preferentially with phosphorylated eIF-2 and has no exchange activity in vitro. Inhibits GCN4 derepression in glucose, amino acid, or purine-starved cells. Present with 8970 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the eIF-2B alpha/beta/delta subunits family.