EIF2AK2 and viral infectious disease: PRKRA encodes protein kinase interferon-inducible double-stranded RNA-dependent activator; in response to double-stranded RNA due to virus infection, it heterodimerizes with protein kinase R to inhibit EIF2a-dependent translation, resulting in upregulation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling, interferon production, and eventually, apoptosis (Sadler and Williams, 2008).