title: Inhibition of NF-kappaB by ZAS3, a zinc-finger protein that also binds to the kappaB motif.
abstract: The ZAS proteins are large zinc-finger transcriptional proteins implicated in growth, signal transduction, and lymphoid development. Recombinant ZAS fusion proteins containing one of the two DNA-binding domains have been shown to bind specifically to the kappaB motif, but the endogenous ZAS proteins or their physiological functions are largely unknown. The kappaB motif, GGGACTTTCC, is a gene regulatory element found in promoters and enhancers of genes involved in immunity, inflammation, and growth. The Rel family of NF-kappaB, predominantly p65.p50 and p50.p50, are transcription factors well known for inducing gene expression by means of interaction with the kappaB motif during acute-phase responses. A functional link between ZAS and NF-kappaB, two distinct families of kappaB-binding proteins, stems from our previous in vitro studies that show that a representative member, ZAS3, associates with TRAF2, an adaptor molecule in tumor necrosis factor signaling, to inhibit NF-kappaB activation. Biochemical and genetic evidence presented herein shows that ZAS3 encodes major kappaB-binding proteins in B lymphocytes, and that NF-kappaB is constitutively activated in ZAS3-deficient B cells. The data suggest that ZAS3 plays crucial functions in maintaining cellular homeostasis, at least in part by inhibiting NF-kappaB by means of three mechanisms: inhibition of nuclear translocation of p65, competition for kappaB gene regulatory elements, and repression of target gene transcription.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State Biochemistry Program, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Joung-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Carl E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Lai-Chu
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA