PERK

Protein kinase RNA-like Endoplasmic Reticulum Kinase (PERK) is one of the principal transmembrane proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, pivotal in the unfolded protein response (UPR). Under conditions of ER stress, PERK is activated to reduce protein synthesis, helping to restore the normal function of the ER and promoting cell survival. It does this by phosphorylating the translation initiation factor eIF2α, decreasing general protein translation but selectively increasing the translation of specific proteins like ATF4 that aid in stress recovery. Dysregulation of PERK signaling is implicated in several diseases, including diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer, making it a potential target for therapeutic intervention to modulate ER stress responses.