Abstract 1548 PKR activation in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress

Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is sensed by the ER resident protein kinase, PERK. PERK phosphorylates the a subunit of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), which prevents translation initiation, leading to a decrease in general protein synthesis while allowing induction of selected genes (e. g. ATF4) to promote cellular recovery. PKR is another protein kinase that phosphorylates eIF2a, however, it is normally activated by double-stranded RNA present during viral infections.