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) (By similarity). The elongator complex catalyzes the formation of carboxymethyluridine in the wobble base at position 34 in tRNAs (By similarity). 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) (By similarity). tRNA modification; 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine-tRNA biosynthesis. Homodimer; dimerization promotes ELP1 stability and elongator complex formation. Component of the elongator complex which consists of ELP1, ELP2, ELP3, ELP4, ELP5 and ELP6. Interacts preferentially with MAP3K14/NIK followed by IKK-alpha and IKK-beta. Phosphorylated. 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.