Structural studies of NF-κB signaling

Cell Res. 2011 Jan;21(1):183-95. doi: 10.1038/cr.2010.171. Epub 2010 Dec 7.

Abstract

NF-κBs are a family of transcription factors that control a number of essential cellular functions including immune responses, cell proliferation and antiapoptosis. NF-κB activities are tightly regulated through upstream signaling molecules and downstream feedback loops. In this review, structural discoveries in the NF-κB pathway are presented. With the structure information, the following questions may be addressed: (1) How do NF-κBs activate their target genes? (2) How do IκBs inhibit NF-κB activities in the steady state? (3) How do upstream signaling molecules activate the NF-κB pathway? and (4) How do the feedback loops shut down the NF-κB pathway to avoid constitutive NF-κB activation?

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / chemistry
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / chemistry*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / chemistry
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • IKBKG protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins
  • DNA
  • I-kappa B Kinase