Function
NF-kappa-B is a pleiotropic transcription factor present in almost all cell types and is the endpoint of a series of signal transduction events that are initiated by a vast array of stimuli related to many biological processes such as inflammation, immunity, differentiation, cell growth, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. NF-kappa-B is a homo- or heterodimeric complex formed by the Rel-like domain-containing proteins RELA/p65, RELB, NFKB1/p105, NFKB1/p50, REL and NFKB2/p52. The heterodimeric RELA-NFKB1 complex appears to be most abundant one. The dimers bind at kappa-B sites in the DNA of their target genes and the individual dimers have distinct preferences for different kappa-B sites that they can bind with distinguishable affinity and specificity. Different dimer combinations act as transcriptional activators or repressors, respectively. The NF-kappa-B heterodimeric RELA-NFKB1 and RELA-REL complexes, for instance, function as transcriptional activators. NF-kappa-B is controlled by various mechanisms of post-translational modification and subcellular compartmentalization as well as by interactions with other cofactors or corepressors. NF-kappa-B complexes are held in the cytoplasm in an inactive state complexed with members of the NF-kappa-B inhibitor (I-kappa-B) family. In a conventional activation pathway, I-kappa-B is phosphorylated by I-kappa-B kinases (IKKs) in response to different activators, subsequently degraded thus liberating the active NF-kappa-B complex which translocates to the nucleus. The inhibitory effect of I-kappa-B on NF-kappa-B through retention in the cytoplasm is exerted primarily through the interaction with RELA. RELA shows a weak DNA-binding site which could contribute directly to DNA binding in the NF-kappa-B complex. Beside its activity as a direct transcriptional activator, it is also able to modulate promoters accessibility to transcription factors and thereby indirectly regulate gene expression. Associates with chromatin at the NF-kappa-B promoter region via association with DDX1. Essential for cytokine gene expression in T-cells (PubMed:15790681). The NF-kappa-B homodimeric RELA-RELA complex appears to be involved in invasin-mediated activation of IL-8 expression.
Gene Ontology
GO:0005737; GO:0005829; GO:0098978; GO:0035525; GO:0000790; GO:0005654; GO:0005634; GO:0005667; GO:0042805; GO:0033613; GO:0071532; GO:0003682; GO:0031490; GO:0003677; GO:0001228; GO:0003700; GO:0000981; GO:0001227; GO:0019899; GO:0042826; GO:0042802; GO:0051059; GO:0042301; GO:0046982; GO:0042803; GO:0019901; GO:0047485; GO:0044877; GO:0070491; GO:0000980; GO:0000978; GO:0000977; GO:0001225; GO:0008134; GO:0044212; GO:0031625; GO:0006117; GO:0007568; GO:0009887; GO:0006968; GO:1904385; GO:0035729; GO:0070301; GO:0071347; GO:0071354; GO:0071222; GO:0071223; GO:0071316; GO:0071224; GO:0071356; GO:0035924; GO:0006325; GO:0019221; GO:0051607; GO:0038095; GO:0001942; GO:0007249; GO:0006954; GO:0070498; GO:0001889; GO:0031293; GO:0043066; GO:2001237; GO:0046627; GO:1901223; GO:1902894; GO:0042177; GO:0033234; GO:0000122; GO:0045892; GO:0038061; GO:0070431; GO:0008284; GO:0032332; GO:0043123; GO:0045084; GO:1904996; GO:2000630; GO:0051092; GO:1901224; GO:1902895; GO:0014040; GO:0050862; GO:0045944; GO:1901522; GO:0045893; GO:0032481; GO:0099527; GO:0061614; GO:0043620; GO:0050727; GO:1901222; GO:0006355; GO:0043200; GO:0051591; GO:0033590; GO:0034097; GO:0032868; GO:0070555; GO:0043278; GO:0032495; GO:0035994; GO:0010033; GO:0032570; GO:0010224; GO:0002223; GO:0050852; GO:0033209; GO:0016032