eIF-2-alpha kinase GCN2

UniProtKB accession:  Q9QZ05

Grouped By:  Matching UniProtKB accession

UniProtKB description:  Metabolic-stress sensing protein kinase that phosphorylates the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha) in response to low amino acid availability (PubMed:10504407, PubMed:10655230, PubMed:12176355, PubMed:12215525, PubMed:15213227, PubMed:16054071, PubMed:16176978, PubMed:16121183, PubMed:15774759, PubMed:16601681, PubMed:26102367). Plays a role as an activator of the integrated stress response (ISR) required for adaptation to amino acid starvation (PubMed:10655230, PubMed:11106749, PubMed:12176355, PubMed:15213227, PubMed:16176978, PubMed:26102367). EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha phosphorylation in response to stress converts EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha into a global protein synthesis inhibitor, leading to a global attenuation of cap-dependent translation, and thus to a reduced overall utilization of amino acids, while concomitantly initiating the preferential translation of ISR-specific mRNAs, such as the transcriptional activator ATF4, and hence allowing ATF4-mediated reprogramming of amino acid biosynthetic gene expression to alleviate nutrient depletion (PubMed:10655230, PubMed:11106749, PubMed:12176355, PubMed:15213227, PubMed:16176978, PubMed:26102367). Required for the translational induction of protein kinase PRKCH following amino acid starvation (PubMed:19797084). Binds uncharged tRNAs (By similarity). Involved in cell cycle arrest by promoting cyclin D1 mRNA translation repression after the unfolded protein response pathway (UPR) activation or cell cycle inhibitor CDKN1A/p21 mRNA translation activation in response to amino acid deprivation (PubMed:16176978, PubMed:26102367). Plays a role in the consolidation of synaptic plasticity, learning as well as formation of long-term memory (PubMed:16121183). Plays a role in neurite outgrowth inhibition (PubMed:23447528). Plays a role in feeding behavior to maintain amino acid homeostasis; contributes to the innate aversion toward diets of imbalanced amino acid composition (PubMed:16054071, PubMed:15774759). Plays a proapoptotic role in response to glucose deprivation (PubMed:20660158). Promotes global cellular protein synthesis repression in response to UV irradiation independently of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) and p38 MAPK signaling pathways (PubMed:12176355).