PKR: Products

PKR is activated in response to the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), most commonly during viral infection where it mediates the antiviral effects of Interferon, and during gene expression manipulation such as siRNA. One substrate of PKR is the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2 alpha, and phosphorylation of eIF2 alpha by PKR inhibits protein synthesis. In addition, PKR has been shown to be involved in apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, and other downstream pathways pertaining to cancer and various other diseases.