PKR Antibody (PRKR)

Interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PRKR/PKR) is a serine-threonine kinase. Activation by dsRNAs leads to autophosphorylation of PKR and allows the kinase to phosphorylate its natural substrate, the alpha subunit of eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor-2 (EIF2-alpha), leading to the inhibition of protein synthesis. PRKR, which is involved in TLR signaling and mediates apoptosis in fibroblasts in response to viral infection and inflammatory cytokines, activates IKK and NFKB, thereby suppressing apoptosis. Apoptosis induced by live pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria requirs both TLR4 and PKR, possibly representing a major mechanism for pathogenic bacteria that use specific virulence factors to avoid detection and destruction by the innate immune system.