Translational regulator that ensures constant high levels of translation upon a variety of stress conditions, such as amino acid starvation, UV-C irradiation, proteasome inhibitor treatment and glucose deprivation. Plays a role as a negative regulator of the EIF2AK4/GCN2 kinase activity; impairs GCN1-mediated EIF2AK4/GCN2 activation, and hence EIF2AK4/GCN2-mediated eIF-2-alpha phosphorylation and subsequent down-regulation of protein synthesis. Plays a role in differentiation of neuronal cells by stimulating neurite outgrowth. Interacts with GCN1; prevents the interaction of GCN1 with EIF2AK4/GCN2 and inhibits EIF2AK4/GCN2 kinase activity. Interaction with RPL39; this interaction occurs in a GCN1-independent manner. Associates with ribosomes; this interaction occurs in a GCN1-independent manner. Associates with actin; this interaction occurs in a GCN1-independent manner. Ubiquitous both in embryo and adult. Present in oocytes as well as in early embryos. In contrast to the mouse or rabbit ortholog, the IMPACT locus is not imprinted in Xenopus. Belongs to the IMPACT family.