The noncoding RNA nc886 regulates PKR signaling and cytokine production in human cells
Protein kinase RNA-activated (PKR) is a cytoplasmic receptor for dsRNA, and as such is involved in detection of viral infection. On binding dsRNA, PKR dimerizes, autophosphorylates, and then phosphorylates its substrate, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit a (eIF2α), causing inhibition of mRNA translation and shutdown of viral protein production. However, active PKR has also been fo