PACT Antibody #12277

PACT (protein activator of protein kinase R) is a double stranded RNA binding protein and a cellular activator of PKR (protein kinase R), a kinase that mediates the antiviral and antiproliferative actions of interferon (1). Stress signals such as serum starvation and arsenite treatment induces PACT to heterodimerize with PKR, resulting in the phosphorylation of eIF-2α and inhibition of protein synthesis (1,2). PACT has also been shown to play a role in RNA-mediated gene silencing by stimulating the activity of Dicer, thereby affecting the efficiency of miRNA accumulation and siRNA gene silencing (3,4). More recently, PACT has been shown to interact with RIG-I, a sensor of viral nucleic acids, and stimulates RIG-I-induced type I interferon production (5). Researchers have found that mutations in PACT are associated with dystonia, a movement disorder where patients develop involuntary muscle contractions and postures (6-8).