X-ray Crystallographic Study of Preferred Spacing by the NF-κB p50 Homodimer on κB DNA.

Though originally characterized as an inactive or transcriptionally repressive factor, the NF-κB p50 homodimer has become appreciated as a physiologically relevant driver of specific target gene expression. By virtue of its low affinity for cytoplasmic IκB protein inhibitors, p50 accumulates in the nucleus of resting cells, where it is a binding target for the transcriptional co-activator IκBζ. In this study, we employed X-ray crystallography to analyze the structure of the p50 homodimer on κB DNA from the promoters of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) genes, both of which respond to IκBζ. The NF-κB p50 homodimer binds 11-bp on IL-6 κB DNA, while, on NGAL κB DNA, the spacing is 12-bp. This begs the question: what DNA binding mode is preferred by NF-κB p50 homodimer? To address this, we engineered a "Test" κB-like DNA containing the core sequence 5'-GGGGAATTCCCC-3' and determined its X-ray crystal structure in complex with p50. This revealed that, when presented with multiple options, NF-κB p50 homodimer prefers to bind 11-bp, which necessarily imposes asymmetry on the complex despite the symmetry inherent in both the protein and its target DNA, and that the p50 dimerization domain can contact DNA via distinct modes.

A new avenue for molecular glues: Rapid discovery of a NFKB1 degrader.

Targeted protein degradation using molecular glues is a powerful method for targeting traditionally undruggable proteins. One challenge in molecular glue discovery is the absence of rational discovery methods. Here, King et al. leverage covalent library screening with chemoproteomics platforms to rapidly discover a molecular glue targeting NFKB1 via UBE2D recruitment.

An intrinsically disordered transcription activation domain increases the DNA binding affinity and reduces the specificity of NFκB p50/RelA.

Many transcription factors contain intrinsically disordered transcription activation domains (TADs), which mediate interactions with coactivators to activate transcription. Historically, DNA-binding domains and TADs have been considered as modular units, but recent studies have shown that TADs can influence DNA binding. Whether these results can be generalized to more TADs is not clear. Here, we biophysically characterized the NFκB p50/RelA heterodimer including the RelA TAD and investigated the TAD's influence on NFκB-DNA interactions. In solution, we show the RelA TAD is disordered but compact, with helical tendency in two regions that interact with coactivators. We determined that the presence of the TAD increased the stoichiometry of NFκB-DNA complexes containing promoter DNA sequences with tandem κB recognition motifs by promoting the binding of NFκB dimers in excess of the number of κB sites. In addition, we measured the binding affinity of p50/RelA for DNA containing tandem κB sites and single κB sites. While the presence of the TAD enhanced the binding affinity of p50/RelA for all κB sequences tested, it also increased the affinity for nonspecific DNA sequences by over 10-fold, leading to an overall decrease in specificity for κB DNA sequences. In contrast, previous studies have generally reported that TADs decrease DNA-binding affinity and increase sequence specificity. Our results reveal a novel function of the RelA TAD in promoting binding to nonconsensus DNA, which sheds light on previous observations of extensive nonconsensus DNA binding by NFκB in vivo in response to strong inflammatory signals.

Voacanga globosa Spirobisindole Alkaloids Exert Antiviral Activity in HIV Latently Infected Cell Lines by Targeting the NF-kB Cascade: In Vitro and In Silico Investigations.

Since the efficiency in the transcription of the HIV genome contributes to the success of viral replication and infectivity, we investigated the downregulating effects of the spirobisindole alkaloids globospiramine (1), deoxyvobtusine (2), and vobtusine lactone (3) from the endemic Philippine medicinal plant, Voacanga globosa, during HIV gene transcription. Alkaloids 1-3 were explored for their inhibitory activity on TNF-α-induced viral replication in two latently HIV-infected cell lines, OM10.1 and J-Lat. The induction of HIV replication from OM10.1 and J-Lat cells elicited by TNF-α was blocked by globospiramine (1) within noncytotoxic concentrations. Furthermore, globospiramine (1) was found to target the NF-ĸB activation cascade in a dose-dependent manner when the transcriptional step at which inhibitory activity is exerted was examined in TNF-α-induced 293 human cells using transient reporter (luciferase) gene expression systems (HIV LTR-luc, ĸB-luc, and mutant ĸB-luc). Interrogation through molecular docking against the NF-ĸB p50/p65 heterodimer and target sites of the subunits comprising the IKK complex revealed high binding affinities of globospiramine (1) against the S281 pocket of the p65 subunit (BE = -9.2 kcal/mol) and the IKKα activation loop (BE = -9.1 kcal/mol). These findings suggest globospiramine (1) as a molecular inspiration to discover new alkaloid-based anti-HIV derivatives.

NF-κB Rel subunit exchange on a physiological timescale.

The Rel proteins of the NF-κB complex comprise one of the most investigated transcription factor families, forming a variety of hetero- or homodimers. Nevertheless, very little is known about the fundamental kinetics of NF-κB complex assembly, or the inter-conversion potential of dimerised Rel subunits. Here, we examined an unexplored aspect of NF-κB dynamics, focusing on the dissociation and reassociation of the canonical p50 and p65 Rel subunits and their ability to form new hetero- or homodimers. We employed a soluble expression system to enable the facile production of NF-κB Rel subunits, and verified these proteins display canonical NF-κB nucleic acid binding properties. Using a combination of biophysical techniques, we demonstrated that, at physiological temperatures, homodimeric Rel complexes routinely exchange subunits with a half-life of less than 10 min. In contrast, we found a dramatic preference for the formation of the p50/p65 heterodimer, which demonstrated a kinetic stability of at least an order of magnitude greater than either homodimer. These results suggest that specific DNA targets of either the p50 or p65 homodimers can only be targeted when these subunits are expressed exclusively, or with the intervention of additional post-translational modifications. Together, this work implies a new model of how cells can modulate NF-κB activity by fine-tuning the relative proportions of the p50 and p65 proteins, as well as their time of expression. This work thus provides a new quantitative interpretation of Rel dimer distribution in the cell, particularly for those who are developing mathematical models of NF-κB activity.

Domain Stability Regulated through the Dimer Interface Controls the Formation Kinetics of a Specific NF-κB Dimer.

The NF-κB family of transcription factors is a key regulator of the immune response in the vertebrates. The family comprises five proteins that function as dimers formed in various combinations among the members, with the RelA-p50 dimer being physiologically the most abundant. While most of the 15 possible dimers are scarcely present in the cell with some remaining experimentally undetected to date, there are specific gene sets that are only activated by certain sparsely populated NF-κB dimers. The mechanism of transcription activation of such specific genes that are activated only by specific NF-κB dimers remains unclear. Here we show that the dimer interfacial residues control the stabilization of the global hydrogen bond network of the NF-κB dimerization domain, which, in turn, controls the thermodynamic stabilization of different NF-κB dimers. The relatively low thermodynamic stability of the RelA-RelA homodimer is critical as it facilitates the formation of the more stable RelA-p50 heterodimer. Through the modulation of the thermodynamic stability of the RelA-RelA homodimer, the kinetics of the RelA-p50 heterodimer formation can be regulated. This phenomenon provides an insight into the mechanism of RelA-RelA specific target gene regulation in physiology.

Synthesis of Conformationally Constrained d-Glu-meso-DAP Analogs as Innate Immune Agonists.

The dipeptide d-Glu-meso-DAP (iE-DAP) is the minimal structural fragment capable of activating the innate immune receptor nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein (NOD1). The meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) moiety is known to be very stringent in terms of the allowed structural modifications which still retain the NOD1 activity. The aim of our study was to further explore the chemical space around the meso-DAP portion and provide a deeper understanding of the structural features required for NOD1 agonism. In order to achieve the rigidization of the terminal amine functionality of meso-DAP, isoxazoline and pyridine heterocycles were introduced into its side-chain. Further, we incorporated the obtained meso-DAP mimetics into the structure of iE-DAP. Collectively, nine innovative iE-DAP derivatives additionally equipped with lauroyl or didodecyl moieties at the α-amino group of d-Glu have been prepared and examined for their NOD1 activating capacity. Overall, the results obtained indicate that constraining the terminal amino group of meso-DAP abrogates the compounds' ability to activate NOD1, since only compound 6b retained noteworthy NOD1 agonistic activity, and underpin the stringent nature of this amino acid with regard to the allowed structural modifications.

Anti-mastitis SNV identification of NFκB1 in Chinese Holstein cows and the possible anti-inflammation role of NFκB1/p105 in bovine MECs.

NFκB1/p105 is the critical member of the NFκB family which can suppress inflammation, ageing, and cancer when p50/p50 homodimer is formed. Currently, the research about the role of NFκB1/p105 during cow mastitis is limited. Here, we analyzed the correlation of six single-nucleotide variants of the NFκB1 gene with somatic cell count, milk yield, milk fat content, and milk protein content in 547 Chinese Holstein cows, and explored the mRNA expression profiles of the NFκB family and ubiquitin ligases (ßTrCP1, ßTrCP2, KPC1, KPC2) in LPS-induced bovine mammary epithelial cells (MECs) by transcriptome-Seq. The association analysis showed that cows with SNV2-TT and SNV6-CC in the NFκB1 gene had significantly higher milk protein content (P < 0.05), while cows with SNV5-TT in the NFκB1 gene had significantly lower somatic cell score (SCS), but CC genotype at SNV5 locus was not detected in our Holstein cows. The transcriptome-Seq results demonstrated the mRNA expression of NFκB1 was increased and peaked at 4 h post-induction, while the mRNA expressions of both KPC1 and BCL3 that promote the anti-inflammation function of NFκB1/p105 were decreased in LPS-induced bovine MECs. TNFAIP3, an inhibitor of both degradation and processing of p105 precursor, was markedly increased by more than 3 folds. Furthermore, bta-miR-125b which targets at the 3'UTR of TNFAIP3 was reduced by 50%. These results indicated that SNV5-TT of the NFκB1 gene with lower SCS may be an anti-mastitis genotype that could cope with infection more efficiently in Chinese Holstein cows. In addition, the anti-inflammation role of NFκB1/p105 seemed to be inhibited in LPS-induced-bovine MECs because the formation of the p50/p50 homodimer was arrested. This study provides a new perspective to understand the inflammatory mechanism in dairy mastitis.

Ultrasensitive Homogeneous Electrochemiluminescence Biosensor for a Transcription Factor Based on Target-Modulated Proximity Hybridization and Exonuclease III-Powered Recycling Amplification.

Herein an ultrasensitive homogeneous ECL biosensor has been developed for TF NF-κB p50 through target-modulated proximity hybridization coupling with exonuclease III (Exo III)-powered recycling amplification. The ECL reagent (Ru(bpy)32+)-labeled hairpin DNA (HP-Rul) contains many negatively charged phosphates on the DNA chain, which cannot diffuse easily toward the negatively charged ITO electrode surface because of the large electrostatic repulsion. So a weak ECL signal can be detected. A proximity complex containing partial double strand DNA (dsDNA, as the binding site) and two hanging single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) fragments has been designed. The binding of NF-κB p50 to dsDNA effectively protects the proximity complex from digestion, forming a stable TF-DNA complex. ssDNA hybridizes with HP-Rul through proximity hybridization and hence forms a T-shape structure. This structure can be recognized by Exo III, thereby initiating the digestion process and results in the release of Ru(bpy)32+-labeled mononucleotide fragments (MFs-Rul). Meanwhile, another HP-Rul is opened and hence triggers the next cycle of hybridization and digestion process; thus, multiple MFs-Rul are generated. MFs-Rul diffuse easily to the ITO electrode because of small electrostatic repulsion, resulting in an evident signal enhancement. Under the optimal conditions, the ΔECL has a linear relationship with the logarithm of NF-κB p50 concentration ranging from 0.1 to 500 pM. The detection limit is 29 fM (S/N = 3). The sensing platform has been successfully applied to detect NF-κB p50 in cell lysates and also demonstrated to work well for NF-κB p50 inhibitor detection, exhibiting great potential in the diagnosis of disease and drug discovery.

Backbone resonance assignments of the dimeric domain of the p50 NF-kappaB subunit.

The Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappaB) is a family of transcription factor recognizing a 9-11 base pair kappaB sites on the promoter/enhancer region of their target genes. The family comprises of five members forming dimers amongst themselves in various combinations. Here we report the backbone resonance assignments of the 24 kDa homodimer of the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB. This is the first step towards understanding the mechanism of dimer formation in solution. The secondary structure derived from the chemical shifts for the dimer is largely consistent with that observed in the available crystal structures of the protein in DNA-bound form.

The regulation of sequence specific NF-κB DNA binding and transcription by IKKß phosphorylation of NF-κB p50 at serine 80.

Phosphorylation of the NF-κB transcription factor is an important regulatory mechanism for the control of transcription. Here we identify serine 80 (S80) as a phosphorylation site on the p50 subunit of NF-κB, and IKKß as a p50 kinase. Transcriptomic analysis of cells expressing a p50 S80A mutant reveals a critical role for S80 in selectively regulating the TNFα inducible expression of a subset of NF-κB target genes including pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. S80 phosphorylation regulates the binding of p50 to NF-κB binding (κB) sites in a sequence specific manner. Specifically, phosphorylation of S80 reduces the binding of p50 at κB sites with an adenine at the -1 position. Our analyses demonstrate that p50 S80 phosphorylation predominantly regulates transcription through the p50:p65 heterodimer, where S80 phosphorylation acts in trans to limit the NF-κB mediated transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. The regulation of a functional class of pro-inflammatory genes by the interaction of S80 phosphorylated p50 with a specific κB sequence describes a novel mechanism for the control of cytokine-induced transcriptional responses.

Comparison of backbone dynamics of the p50 dimerization domain of NFκB in the homodimeric transcription factor NFκB1 and in its heterodimeric complex with RelA (p65).

The nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NFκB) transcription factors play a critical role in human immune response. The family includes homodimers and heterodimers of five component proteins, which mediate different transcriptional responses and bind preferentially to different DNA sequences. Crystal structures of DNA complexes show that the dimers of the Rel-homology regions are structurally very similar. Differing DNA sequence preference together with structural similarity suggests that the dimers may differ in their dynamics. In this study, we present the first near-complete 15 N, 13 Cα/ß , and HN backbone resonance assignments of two dimers of the dimerization domain (DD) of the NFκB1 (p50) protein (residues 241-351): the homodimer of two p50 domains and a heterodimer of the p50 DD with the p65 DD. As expected, the two dimers behave very similarly, with chemical shift differences between them largely concentrated in the dimer interface and attributable to specific differences in the amino acid sequences of p50 and p65. A comparison of the picosecond-nanosecond dynamics of the homo- and heterodimers also shows that the environment of p50 is similar, with an overall slightly reduced correlation time for the homodimer compared to the heterodimer, consistent with its slightly smaller molecular weight. These results demonstrate that NMR spectroscopy can be used to explore subtle changes in structure and dynamics that have the potential to give insights into differences in specificity that can be exploited in the design of new therapeutic agents.

Exclusivity and Compensation in NFκB Dimer Distributions and IκB Inhibition.

The NFκB transcription factor family members RelA, p50, and cRel form homo- and heterodimers that are inhibited by IκBα, IκBß, and IκBε. These NFκB family members have diverse biological functions, and their expression profiles differ, leading to different concentrations in different tissue types. Here we present definitive biophysical measurements of the NFκB dimer affinities and inhibitor affinities to better understand dimer exchange and how the presence of inhibitors may alter the equilibrium concentrations of NFκB dimers in the cellular context. Fluorescence anisotropy binding experiments were performed at low concentrations to mimic intracellular concentrations. We report binding affinities much stronger than those that had been previously reported by non-equilibrium gel shift and analytical ultracentrifugation assays. The results reveal a wide range of NFκB dimer affinities and a strong preference of each IκB for a small subset of NFκB dimers. Once the preferred IκB is bound, dimer exchange no longer occurs over a period of days. A mathematical model of the cellular distribution of these canonical NFκB transcription factors based on the revised binding affinities recapitulates intracellular observations and provides simple, precise explanations for observed cellular phenomena.

DNA Binding and Phosphorylation Regulate the Core Structure of the NF-κB p50 Transcription Factor.

The NF-κB transcription factors are known to be extensively phosphorylated, with dynamic site-specific modification regulating their ability to dimerize and interact with DNA. p50, the proteolytic product of p105 (NF-κB1), forms homodimers that bind DNA but lack intrinsic transactivation function, functioning as repressors of transcription from κB promoters. Here, we examine the roles of specific phosphorylation events catalysed by either protein kinase A (PKAc) or Chk1, in regulating the functions of p50 homodimers. LC-MS/MS analysis of proteolysed p50 following in vitro phosphorylation allows us to define Ser328 and Ser337 as PKAc- and Chk1-mediated modifications, and pinpoint an additional four Chk1 phosphosites: Ser65, Thr152, Ser242 and Ser248. Native mass spectrometry (MS) reveals Chk1- and PKAc-regulated disruption of p50 homodimer formation through Ser337. Additionally, we characterise the Chk1-mediated phosphosite, Ser242, as a regulator of DNA binding, with a S242D p50 phosphomimetic exhibiting a > 10-fold reduction in DNA binding affinity. Conformational dynamics of phosphomimetic p50 variants, including S242D, are further explored using ion-mobility MS (IM-MS). Finally, comparative theoretical modelling with experimentally observed p50 conformers, in the absence and presence of DNA, reveals that the p50 homodimer undergoes conformational contraction during electrospray ionisation that is stabilised by complex formation with κB DNA. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

HDAC1 interacts with the p50 NF-?B subunit via its nuclear localization sequence to constrain inflammatory gene expression.

The NF-?B p50 subunit is an important regulator of inflammation, with recent experimental evidence to support it also having a tumor suppressor role. Classically, p50 functions in heterodimeric form with the RelA (p65) NF-?B subunit to activate inflammatory genes. However, p50 also forms homodimers which actively repress NF-?B-dependent inflammatory gene expression and exert an important brake on the inflammatory process. This repressive activity of p50:p50 is thought to be in part mediated by an interaction with the epigenetic repressor protein Histone Deacetylase 1 (HDAC1). However, neither the interaction of p50 with HDAC1 nor the requirement of HDAC1 for the repressive activities of p50 has been well defined. Here we employed in silico prediction with in vitro assays to map sites of interaction of HDAC1 on the p50 protein. Directed mutagenesis of one such region resulted in almost complete loss of HDAC1 binding to p50. Transfected mutant p50 protein lacking the putative HDAC1 docking motif resulted in enhanced cytokine and chemokine expression when compared with cells expressing a transfected wild type p50. In addition, expression of this mutant p50 was associated with enhanced chemoattraction of neutrophils and acetylation of known inflammatory genes demonstrating the likely importance of the p50:HDAC1 interaction for controlling inflammation. These new insights provide an advance on current knowledge of the mechanisms by which NF-?B-dependent gene transcription are regulated and highlight the potential for manipulation of p50:HDAC1 interactions to bring about experimental modulation of chronic inflammation and pathologies associated with dysregulated neutrophil accumulation and activation.

RelA-Containing NFκB Dimers Have Strikingly Different DNA-Binding Cavities in the Absence of DNA.

The main nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor family members RelA-p50 heterodimer and RelA homodimer have different biological functions and show different transcriptional activation profiles. To investigate whether the two family members adopt a similar conformation in their free states, we performed hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and stopped-flow binding kinetics experiments. Surprisingly, the N-terminal DNA-binding domains adopt an open conformation in RelA-p50 but a closed conformation in RelA homodimer. Both hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations indicate the formation of an interface between the N-terminal DNA-binding domains only in the RelA homodimer. Such an interface would be expected to impede DNA binding, and stopped-flow binding kinetics show that association of DNA is slower for the homodimer as compared to the heterodimer. Our results show that the DNA-binding cavity in the RelA-p50 heterodimer is open for DNA binding, whereas in the RelA homodimer, it is occluded.

Is there a future for andrographolide to be an anti-inflammatory drug? Deciphering its major mechanisms of action.

Andrographis paniculata has long been part of the traditional herbal medicine system in Asia and in Scandinavia. Andrographolide was isolated as a major bioactive constituent of A. paniculata in 1951, and since 1984, andrographolide and its analogs have been scrutinized with modern drug discovery approach for anti-inflammatory properties. With this accumulated wealth of pre-clinical data, it is imperative to review and consolidate different sources of information, to decipher the major anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action in inflammatory diseases, and to provide direction for future studies. Andrographolide and its analogs have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory benefits in a variety of inflammatory disease models. Among the diverse signaling pathways investigated, inhibition of NF-κB activity is the prevailing anti-inflammatory mechanism elicited by andrographolide. There is also increasing evidence supporting endogenous antioxidant defense enhancement by andrographolide through Nrf2 activation. However, the exact pathway leading to NF-κB and Nrf2 activation by andrographolide has yet to be elucidated. Validation and consensus on the major mechanistic actions of andrographolide in different inflammatory conditions are required before translating current findings into clinical settings. There are a few clinical trials conducted using andrographolide in fixed combination formulation which have shown anti-inflammatory benefits and good safety profile. A concerted effort is definitely needed to identify potent andrographolide lead compounds with improved pharmacokinetics and toxicological properties. Taken together, andrographolide and its analogs have great potential to be the next new class of anti-inflammatory agents, and more andrographolide molecules are likely moving towards clinical study stage in the near future.

Importins promote high-frequency NF-κB oscillations increasing information channel capacity.

BACKGROUND: Importins and exportins influence gene expression by enabling nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of transcription factors. A key transcription factor of innate immunity, NF-κB, is sequestered in the cytoplasm by its inhibitor, IκBα, which masks nuclear localization sequence of NF-κB. In response to TNFα or LPS, IκBα is degraded, which allows importins to bind NF-κB and shepherd it across nuclear pores. NF-κB nuclear activity is terminated when newly synthesized IκBα enters the nucleus, binds NF-κB and exportin which directs the complex to the cytoplasm. Although importins/exportins are known to regulate spatiotemporal kinetics of NF-κB and other transcription factors governing innate immunity, the mechanistic details of these interactions have not been elucidated and mathematically modelled. RESULTS: Based on our quantitative experimental data, we pursue NF-κB system modelling by explicitly including NF-κB-importin and IκBα-exportin binding to show that the competition between importins and IκBα enables NF-κB nuclear translocation despite high levels of IκBα. These interactions reduce the effective relaxation time and allow the NF-κB regulatory pathway to respond to recurrent TNFα pulses of 45-min period, which is about twice shorter than the characteristic period of NF-κB oscillations. By stochastic simulations of model dynamics we demonstrate that randomly appearing, short TNFα pulses can be converted to essentially digital pulses of NF-κB activity, provided that intervals between input pulses are not shorter than 1 h. CONCLUSIONS: By including interactions involving importin-α and exportin we bring the modelling of spatiotemporal kinetics of transcription factors to a more mechanistic level. Basing on the analysis of the pursued model we estimated the information transmission rate of the NF-κB pathway as 1 bit per hour. REVIEWERS: This article was reviewed by Marek Kimmel, James Faeder and William Hlavacek.

NMR characterization of a 72 kDa transcription factor using differential isotopic labeling.

NF-κB is a major transcription factor that mediates a number of cellular signaling pathways. Crystal structure analysis gives an incomplete picture of the behavior of the protein, particularly in the free state; free monomers or dimers of NF-κB have never been crystallized. NMR analysis gives insights into the structure and dynamics of the protein in solution, but a necessary first step is the assignment of resonances. The size of the heterodimer of the Rel homology regions of the NF-κB monomers p65 and p50 (72 kDa) prohibits the straightforward use of triple-resonance spectroscopy to obtain the assignments. However, the dynamic nature of the free heterodimer, in particular the independence of the DNA-binding and dimerization domains of each monomer, allows the assignments made on differentially labeled smaller domains to be mapped successfully onto the spectrum of the larger full-length RHR. Problematic areas such as the p65 nuclear localization sequence, which is disordered in the free protein, can be approached by residue-specific labeling and comparison with previously-published spectra of a short peptide with the same sequence. Overall, this NMR analysis of NF-κB has given valuable insights into the highly dynamic nature of the free state, which is likely to play an important role in the functional cycle of NF-κB in the cell.

NFKB1: a suppressor of inflammation, ageing and cancer.

The pleiotropic consequences of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NF-κB) pathway activation result from the combinatorial effects of the five subunits that form the homo- and heterodimeric NF-κB complexes. Although biochemical and gene knockout studies have demonstrated overlapping and distinct functions for these proteins, much is still not known about the mechanisms determining context-dependent functions, the formation of different dimer complexes and transcriptional control in response to diverse stimuli. Here we discuss recent results that reveal that the nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1 (NFKB1) (p105/p50) subunit is an important regulator of NF-κB activity in vivo. These effects are not restricted to being a dimer partner for other NF-κB subunits. Rather p50 homodimers have a critical role as suppressors of the NF-κB response, while the p105 precursor has a variety of NF-κB-independent functions. The importance of Nfkb1 function can be seen in mouse models, where Nfkb1(-/-) mice display increased inflammation and susceptibility to certain forms of DNA damage, leading to cancer, and a rapid ageing phenotype. In humans, low expression of Kip1 ubiquitination-promoting complex 1 (KPC1), a ubiquitin ligase required for p105 to p50 processing, was shown to correlate with a reduction in p50 and glioblastoma incidence. Therefore, while the majority of research in this field has focused on the upstream signalling pathways leading to NF-κB activation or the function of other NF-κB subunits, such as RelA (p65), these data demonstrate a critical role for NFKB1, potentially revealing new strategies for targeting this pathway in inflammatory diseases and cancer.