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PERK in the life and death of the pancreatic beta-cell
1Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, The Henry Wellcome Building, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 9HN, U.K. tph4@le.ac.uk
Abstract:
To ensure cellular survival to ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress, PERK [PKR (double-stranded-RNA-dependent protein kinase)-like ER kinase], an ER transmembrane kinase, is activated as part of the unfolded protein response. PERK is highly expressed in pancreatic beta-cells and is essential in the beta-cell's development, differentiation and function. However, chronic activation of PERK can induce cell death, and its activation has been implicated in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This short review aims to provide an insight into our current understanding of the role of PERK in the life and death of the beta-cell.
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