Postrepression activation of NF-kappaB requires the amino-terminal nuclear export signal specific to IkappaBalpha.
One of the most prominent NF-kappaB target genes in mammalian cells is the gene encoding one of its inhibitor proteins, IkappaBalpha. The increased synthesis of IkappaBalpha leads to postinduction repression of nuclear NF-kappaB activity. However, it is unknown why IkappaBalpha, among multiple IkappaB family members, is involved in this process and what significance this feedback regulation has beyond terminating NF-kappaB activity. Herein, we report an important IkappaBalpha-specific function dictated by its amino-terminal nuclear export sequence (N-NES). The IkappaBalpha N-NES is necessary for the postinduction export of nuclear NF-kappaB, which is a critical event in reestablishing a permissive condition for NF-kappaB to be rapidly reactivated. We show that although IkappaBalpha and another IkappaB member, IkappaBbeta, can enter the nucleus and repress NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity during the postinduction phase, only IkappaBalpha allows the efficient export of nuclear NF-kappaB. Moreover, swapping the N-terminal region of IkappaBbeta for the corresponding IkappaBalpha sequence is sufficient for the IkappaB chimera protein to export NF-kappaB similarly to IkappaBalpha during the postinduction state. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation of why IkappaBalpha but not other IkappaB members is crucial for postrepression activation of NF-kappaB. We propose that this IkappaBalpha-specific function is important for certain physiological and pathological conditions where NF-kappaB needs to be rapidly reactivated.
Huang
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Program in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1532, USA.
Miyamoto
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D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; C083487:I kappa B beta protein; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; C038753:leptomycin B