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Mol. Cell. Biol., 05 1995, 2689-2696, Vol 15, No. 5
F Arenzana-Seisdedos, J Thompson, MS Rodriguez, F Bachelerie, D Thomas and RT Hay
The transcription factor NF-kappa B is exploited by many viruses, including
the human immunodeficiency virus, for expression of viral genes, but its
primary role appears to be in the rapid induction of cellular genes during
immune and inflammatory responses. The inhibitor protein I kappa B alpha
maintains NF-kappa B in an inactive form in the cytoplasms of unstimulated
cells, but upon cell activation, I kappa B alpha is rapidly degraded,
leading to nuclear translocation of free NF- kappa B. However, NF-kappa
B-dependent transcription of the I kappa B alpha gene leads to rapid
resynthesis of the I kappa B alpha protein and inhibition of NF-kappa
B-dependent transcription. Here we demonstrate a new regulatory function of
I kappa B alpha exerted on NF- kappa B in the nuclear compartment. Although
normally found in the cytoplasm, I kappa B alpha, newly synthesized in
response to tumor necrosis factor or interleukin I, is transported to the
nucleus. In the nucleus I kappa B alpha associates with the p50 and p65
subunits of NF- kappa B, inhibiting DNA binding of the transcription
factor. Furthermore, nuclear expression of I kappa B alpha correlates with
transcription termination of transfected NF-kappa B-dependent luciferase
genes. Following the appearance of I kappa B alpha in the nuclei of
activated cells, a dramatic reduction in the amount of nuclear p50 occurs,
suggesting that NF-kappa B-I kappa B alpha complexes are cleared from the
nucleus.
Copyright © 1995, American Society for Microbiology
Inducible nuclear expression of newly synthesized I kappa B alpha negatively regulates DNA-binding and transcriptional activities of NF- kappa B
School of Biological and Medical Sciences, University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
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