In vitro activation of the interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase PKR by RNA from the 3' untranslated regions of human α-tropomyosin

摘要

The cellular kinase known as PKR (protein kinase RNA-activated) is induced by interferon and activated by RNA. PKR is known to have antiviral properties due to its role in translational control. Active PKR phosphorylates eukaryotic initiation factor 2αand leads to inhibition of translation, including viral translation. PKR is also known to function as a tumor suppressor, presumably by limiting the rate of tumor-cell translation and growth.