The Emerging Role of the Interferon-Induced PKR Protein Kinase as an Apoptotic Effector: A New Face of Death?
- 1 June 1999
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research
- Vol. 19 (6) , 543-554
- https://doi.org/10.1089/107999099313677
Abstract
Recent research has thrown a spotlight on the interferon (IFN)-induced PKR protein kinase, implicating it as an important effector of apoptosis induced by several cellular stress conditions, including viral infection, cytokine treatment, and growth factor deprivation. In this review, we summarize the evidence for the role of PKR as a death accomplice and discuss how PKR might promote cell demise in light of current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis. Given its new found role and its established antiviral function, it is no wonder that PKR is a popular target for viral evasion of the host defense. PKR-dependent apoptosis may offer a novel cell-death pathway for specific manipulation in therapeutic strategies against apoptosis-related diseases.Keywords
This publication has 120 references indexed in Scilit:
- Baculovirus interaction with host apoptotic pathwaysJournal of Cellular Physiology, 1997
- Brefeldin A inhibits the antiviral action of interferon against encephalomyocarditis virusVirus Research, 1996
- Interruption of Myogenesis by Transforming Growth Factor β1 or EGTA Inhibits Expression and Activity of the Myogenic-Associated (2′-5′) Oligoadenylate Synthetase and PKRExperimental Cell Research, 1995
- Apoptosis in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of DiseaseScience, 1995
- Independent Signaling of grp78 Gene Transcription and Phosphorylation of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2α by the Stressed Endoplasmic ReticulumJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1995
- Programmed cell death, apoptosis and killer genesImmunology Today, 1993
- Chromosomal Assignment of the Interferon-Inducible Double-Stranded RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase (PRKR) to Human Chromosome 2p21-p22 and Mouse Chromosome 17 E2Genomics, 1993
- Localization of the Human Interferon-Induced, ds-RNA Activated p68 Kinase Gene (PRKR) to Chromosome 2p21-p22Genomics, 1993
- Nerve growth factor withdrawal-induced cell death in neuronal PC12 cells resembles that in sympathetic neurons.The Journal of cell biology, 1992
- Malignant transformation by a mutant of the IFN-inducible dsRNA-dependent protein kinaseScience, 1992