Rabbit polyclonal antibody to PERK (R87)

An interferon~inducible, RNA~dependent protein serine /threonine kinase (PKR) has been described. PKR in earlier literature is variously known as DAI, dsJ, PI kinase, p65, p67 or TIK for the mouse kinase; and p68 or p69 for the human kinase. The PKR kinase substrate is the α subunit of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF~2. Phosphorylation of eIF~2α on serine~51 results in inhibition of translation. The serine /threonine kinase catalytic domains map to the carboxy terminal half of the protein while the RNA~binding domains are located in the amino terminal region. PERK is a type I transmembrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that contains a kinase domain similar to the kinase domain of PKR. PERK is activated in response to ER stress and phosphorylates eIF~2α, thus inhibiting the translation of mRNA.