Protein kinase R

Protein kinase R (Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 2) is a protein protecting against viral infections. EIF2AK2 is its human gene.

Mechanism
PKR is activated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), produced by virus. PKR can also be activated by the protein PACT or by heparin. PKR contains an N-terminal dsRNA binding domain (dsRBD) and a C-terminal kinase domain, that gives it pro-apoptotic (cell-killing) functions. The dsRBD consists of two tandem copies of a conserved double stranded RNA binding motif, dsRBM1 and dsRBM2. PKR is induced by interferon in a latent state. Binding to dsRNA is believed to activate PKR by inducing dimerization and subsequent autophosphorylation reactions. In situations of viral infection, the dsRNA created by viral replication and gene expression binds to the N-terminal domain, activating the protein and causing apoptosis of the cell to prevent further viral spread.

Viral defence
Viruses have developed many mechanisms to outfox the PKR mechanism. It may be done by Decoy dsRNA, degradation, hiding of virus dsRNA, dimerization block, dephosphorylation of substrate or by a pseudosubstrate.

For instance, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) uses the gene EBER-1 to produce decoy dsRNA. This leads to cancers such as burkitt's lymphoma, hodgkin's Disease, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and various leukemias.