Cotranslational quality control factor involved in the No-Go Decay (NGD) pathway. Required for 48S complex formation from 80S ribosomes and dissociation of vacant 80S ribosomes. Recognizes stalled ribosomes and promotes dissociation of elongation complexes assembled on non-stop mRNAs; this triggers endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA, a mechanism to release non-functional ribosomes and to degrade damaged mRNAs as part of the No-Go Decay (NGD) pathway. Upon mitochondrial damage is recruited to the ribosome/mRNA-ribonucleoprotein complex associated to mitochondrial outer membrane thereby enabling the recruitment of autophagy receptors and induction of mitophagy. The N-terminal domain has the RNA-binding Sm fold. It harbors the endoribonuclease activity. Belongs to the eukaryotic release factor 1 family. Pelota subfamily.