EIF2AK3 and prion disease: The involvement of UPR, in particular the PERK-eIF2α-ATF4 pathway, in the pathogenesis of prion diseases has been demonstrated by the inhibition of the PERK activity and/or the reduction of eIF2α phosphorylation levels which successfully prolonged the survival of prion-infected transgenic mice overexpressing PrP [30, 31].