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Review
. 2009 Sep;29(9):477-87.
doi: 10.1089/jir.2009.0065.

Tipping the balance: antagonism of PKR kinase and ADAR1 deaminase functions by virus gene products

Cyril X George  1 , Zhiqun Li, Kristina M Okonski, Ann M Toth, Ying Wang, Charles E Samuel
Affiliations
Review

Tipping the balance: antagonism of PKR kinase and ADAR1 deaminase functions by virus gene products

Cyril X George et al. J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

The protein kinase regulated by RNA (PKR) and the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR1) are interferon-inducible enzymes that play important roles in biologic processes including the antiviral actions of interferons, signal transduction, and apoptosis. PKR catalyzes the RNA-dependent phosphorylation of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2 alpha, thereby leading to altered translational patterns in interferon-treated and virus-infected cells. PKR also modulates signal transduction responses, including the induction of interferon. ADAR1 catalyzes the deamination of adenosine (A) to generate inosine (I) in RNAs with double-stranded character. Because I is recognized as G instead of A, A-to-I editing by ADAR1 can lead to genetic recoding and altered RNA structures. The importance of PKR and ADAR1 in innate antiviral immunity is illustrated by a number of viruses that encode either RNA or protein viral gene products that antagonize PKR and ADAR1 enzymatic activity, localization, or stability.

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