Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Protein kinase R (PKR) is a key component of the interferon-induced immune response to viral stress. It contains two N-terminal dsRNA binding domains (dsRBD) and a C-terminal serine/threonine kinase domain separated by a 90 residue unstructured linker of unknown function. PKR is activated by viral dsRNAs via dimerization and autophosphorylation of specific serine and threonine residues. We have developed an assay to measure dimerization of PKR while bound to various dsRNAs using Fӧrster resonance energy transfer. This is the first direct measurement of PKR dimerization upon dsRNAs binding. Our results show that inactive dimers of PKR exist in solution, and that a specific back-to-back dimer configuration is essential for activation. The role of the interdomain linker was determined by characterizing linker deleted constructs of PKR. We propose that the unstructured linker may exist to negatively regulate PKR activation by limiting it’s binding stoichiometry and curbing dsRNA-independent activation. The role of the second dsRNA binding domain was probed by mutating residues likely to contact dsRNA. Collectively, the studies presented here provide new insight on the elusive mechanism of dsRNA induced PKR activation.
Author: Bushra Husain
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2289828861