NF-κB Pathway

Pathway Introduction

The transcriptional nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)/Rel transcription factors are present in the cytosol in an inactive state, complexed with the inhibitory IκB proteins. Activation occurs via phosphorylation of IκBα at Ser32 and Ser36, resulting in the ubiquitin-mediated proteasome-dependent degradation of IκBα and the release and nuclear translocation of active NF-κB dimers. The regulation of IκBβ and IκBε is similar to that of IκBα, however, the phosphorylation and degradation of these proteins occurs with much slower kinetics. Phosphorylation of IκBβ occurs at Ser/Thr19 and Ser23, while IκBε can be phosphorylated at Ser18 and Ser22. The key regulatory step in this pathway involves activation of a high molecular weight IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex, consisting of three tightly associated IKK subunits. IKKα and IKKβ serve as the catalytic subunits of the kinase. Activation of IKK depends on phosphorylation at Ser177 and Ser181 in the activation loop of IKKβ (176 and 180 in IKKα). NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), and its homolog IKKε (IKKi), phosphorylate and activate IKKα and IKKβ.

The NF-κB family of transcription factors is comprised of five proteins in mammals, p65/RelA, c-Rel, RelB, NF-κB1 (p105/p50) and NF-κB2 (p100/p52). p105 and p100 are proteolytically processed to produce p50 and p52, respectively. The 50 kDa active form is produced through proteolytic processing following IKK-mediated phosphorylation of p105 at multiple sites (Ser922, 924, 928 and 933), while p100's processing to p52 is induced by phosphorylation of Ser864 and Ser868. The p50 and p52 products form dimeric complexes with Rel proteins, which are then able to bind DNA and regulate transcription. Phosphorylation of p65/RelA at Ser276 by PKA C and MSK1 enhances transcriptional activity. p65 phosphorylation at Ser536 regulates activation, nuclear localization, protein-protein interactions, and transcriptional activity. PMA-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity is dependent on the region of p65 containing the potential phosphorylation sites Ser457, Thr458, Thr464 and Ser468. Phosphorylation of Ser468 by GSK-3β inhibits basal p65 activity.

Activation of canonical NF-κB signaling and non-canonical NF-κB signaling

Relevent antibodies

Flora Flora is a technical support expert at EnkiLife, familiar with immunology and neuroscience, dedicated to providing customers with high-quality product combinations and technical support to help achieve research in neurodegenerative diseases and other neuroscience areas.