Overview:

EIF2AK1 (HRI) or eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-alpha kinase 1 acts at the level of translation initiation to downregulate protein synthesis in response to stress. EIF2AK1 (HRI) is a kinase that can be inactivated by hemin and is activated by heme deficiency and other stimuli and is a major protein kinase that phosphorylates EIF2-alpha (1). EIF2AK1 (HRI) is downregulated in the majority of ovarian cancers compared with normal ovarian tissues. EIF2AK1 (HRI) functions in iron homeostasis and may play a role in hemolytic and inflammatory anemia (2).

Gene Aliases:

HCR; HRI; KIAA1369

Genbank Number:

NM_014413

References:

1. Hwang. et.al: Cloning of hHRI, human heme-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor 2-alpha kinase: down-regulated in epithelial ovarian cancers. Molec. Cells 10: 584-591, 2000.

2. Liu, S. et.al: The function of heme-regulated elF2-alpha kinase in murine iron homeostasis and macrophage maturation. J. Clin. Invest. 117: 3296-3305, 2007.