Kinase Subfamily PKR
From WikiKinome
Kinase Classification: Group Other: Family PEK: PKR
!! This page is a Stub !!
PKR (Protein Kinase R) is a member of the stress-responsive PEK kinase family, which is activated by double-stranded RNA during viral infection.
Domain Structure
PKR genes have a pair of RNA-binding DSRM domains, followed by the kinase domain. Zebrafish has a variant PKR, called PKZ, which has Z-DNA binding domains instead, probably still used to bind viral nucleic acids [1].
Classification and Evolution
PKR is a vertebrate-specific gene. It is extremely fast-evolving, possibly due to it's co-evolution with viral inhibitor proteins [2]. Weak homologs of PKR, lacking the DSRM domains, have been found in excavates, annotated as PKR-like [3]
References
- Rothenburg S, Deigendesch N, Dittmar K, Koch-Nolte F, Haag F, Lowenhaupt K, and Rich A. A PKR-like eukaryotic initiation factor 2alpha kinase from zebrafish contains Z-DNA binding domains instead of dsRNA binding domains. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Feb 1;102(5):1602-7. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0408714102 |
- Elde NC, Child SJ, Geballe AP, and Malik HS. Protein kinase R reveals an evolutionary model for defeating viral mimicry. Nature. 2009 Jan 22;457(7228):485-9. DOI:10.1038/nature07529 |
- Manning G, Reiner DS, Lauwaet T, Dacre M, Smith A, Zhai Y, Svard S, and Gillin FD. The minimal kinome of Giardia lamblia illuminates early kinase evolution and unique parasite biology. Genome Biol. 2011 Jul 25;12(7):R66. DOI:10.1186/gb-2011-12-7-r66 |
