cjb57

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a pathogen associated molecular pattern that stimulates interferon production and activates antiviral pathways. Protein Kinase R (PKR) is activated by dsRNA and causes a general inhibition of translation by preventing initiation. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection causes the accumulation of dsRNA, but the viral proteins TRS1 and IRS1 prevent PKR activation through a mechanism that involves PKR and dsRNA binding. I am studying the interactions between dsRNA, PKR, and TRS1 to gain a greater understanding of how HCMV evades this antiviral pathway.