US Patent 7235636 Human heme-regulated initiation factor 2-alpha kinase

The present invention provides an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a human heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase. In addition, the invention provides a method for inhibiting protein synthesis, inducing cellular differentiation, or inhibiting infection in human cells by administering an effective amount of a heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase to the cells. Methods are also provided for modulating heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase activity and determining the level of heme-regulated initiation factor 2 alpha kinase expression.