eIF-2-alpha kinase GCN2

UniProtKB accession:  P15442

Grouped By:  Matching UniProtKB accession

UniProtKB description:  Metabolic-stress sensing protein kinase that phosphorylates the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2-alpha/SUI2) on 'Ser-52' in response to low amino acid, carbon, or purine availability (PubMed:1739968, PubMed:7623840, PubMed:8798780, PubMed:9528799, PubMed:10983975, PubMed:17202131, PubMed:8336737, PubMed:10733573, PubMed:33338396). Required for adapatation to nutrient starvation by acting as a key component of the integrated stress response (ISR), by which cells alter their translational and transcriptional output in response to starvation (PubMed:1739968, PubMed:7623840, PubMed:8798780, PubMed:9528799, PubMed:10983975, PubMed:17202131, PubMed:8336737, PubMed:10733573, PubMed:33338396). Converts phosphorylated eIF-2-alpha/SUI2 either to a competitive inhibitor of translation initiation factor eIF-2B, leading to a global protein synthesis repression, and thus to a reduced overall utilization of amino acids, or to a translational initiation activation of specific mRNAs, such as the transcriptional activator GCN4, and hence allowing GCN4-mediated reprogramming of transcription to alleviate nutrient depletion (PubMed:2660141, PubMed:2188100, PubMed:1739968, PubMed:7621831, PubMed:7623840, PubMed:8798780, PubMed:10801780, PubMed:11350982, PubMed:24333428, PubMed:10733573, PubMed:33338396). Binds uncharged tRNAs (PubMed:7623840, PubMed:10983975). Binds to aminoacylated tRNA(Phe) less tightly than to deacylated tRNA(Phe) (PubMed:10983975). Binds to double-stranded RNA (PubMed:9430731).