Component of the elongator complex which is required for multiple tRNA modifications, including mcm5U (5-methoxycarbonylmethyl uridine), mcm5s2U (5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine), and ncm5U (5-carbamoylmethyl uridine) (PubMed:29332244). The elongator complex catalyzes the formation of carboxymethyluridine in the wobble base at position 34 in tRNAs (PubMed:29332244). Regulates the migration and branching of projection neurons in the developing cerebral cortex, through a process depending on alpha-tubulin acetylation (By similarity). ELP1 binds to tRNA, mediating interaction of the elongator complex with tRNA (By similarity). May act as a scaffold protein that assembles active IKK-MAP3K14 complexes (IKKA, IKKB and MAP3K14/NIK) (PubMed:9751059). tRNA modification; 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine-tRNA biosynthesis. Homodimer; dimerization promotes ELP1 stability and elongator complex formation (PubMed:26261306). Component of the elongator complex which consists of ELP1, ELP2, ELP3, ELP4, ELP5 and ELP6 (PubMed:11714725, PubMed:11818576, PubMed:22854966, PubMed:11818576, PubMed:26261306, PubMed:25960406). Interacts preferentially with MAP3K14/NIK followed by IKK-alpha and IKK-beta (PubMed:9751059). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the ELP1/IKA1 family. The elongator complex was originally thought to play a role in transcription elongation. However, it is no longer thought to play a direct role in this process and its primary function is thought to be in tRNA modification.