Effects of IkappaBalpha and its mutants on NF-kappaB and p53 signaling pathways.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of IkappaBalpha and its mutants (IkappaBalphaM, IkappaBalpha243N, IkappaBalphaM244C) on NF-kappaB, p53 and their downstream target genes. The relationship of NF-kappaB, p53, and IkappaBalpha was further discussed.


METHODS
pECFP-IkappaBalpha, pECFP-IkappaBalphaM (amino acides 1-317, Ser32, 36A), pECFP-IkappaBalpha243N (amino acides 1-243), pECFP-IkappaBalpha244C (amino acides 244-317), pEYFP-p65 and pp53-DsRed were constructed and transfected to ASTC-alpha-1 cells. Cells were transfected with pECFP-C1 as a control. 30 h after the transfection, location patterns of NF-kappaB, p53 and IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalphaM, IkappaBalpha243N, IkappaBalpha244C) were observed by a laser scanning microscope (LSM510/ConfoCor2, Zeiss). RNA extraction and reverse transcription were performed in cells transfected or co-transfected with different plasmids. Effects of IkappaBalpha and its mutants on the transprition level of NF-kappaB, NF-kappaB downstream target gene TNF-alpha, p53 and p53 downstream target gene Bax were observed by real time QT-PCR. In all experiments beta-actin was reference. Results are expressed as the target/reference ratio of the sample divided by the target/reference ratio of the control. Different transfected cells were incubated with CCK-8 for 2 h in the incubator. Then the absorbance at 450 nm was measured by using a microplate reader.


RESULTS
Cells that were transfected with p53-DsRed revealed a predominant nuclear localization. YFP-p65 mainly existed in the cytoplasm. Cells were transfected with CFP-IkappaBalpha, CFP-IkappaBalphaM, and CFP-IkappaBalpha243N respectively and revealed a predominant cytosolic localization. However, cells transfected of CFP-IkappaBalpha244C revealed a predominant nuclear localization. The mRNA levels of p65, TNF-alpha, p53 and Bax in CFP-IkappaBalpha transfected cells did not change significantly, while in YFP-p65/CFP-IkappaBalpha co-transfected cells, IkappaBalpha decreased the transcription of p65 downstream gene TNF-alpha (2.24+/-0.503) compared with the YFP-p65/CFP-C1 co-transfected cells (5.08+/-0.891) (P<0.05). Phosphorylation defective IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalphaM) decreased the transcription levels of all the four genes compared with the control (P<0.05). The N terminus of IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha243N) increased the transcription of NF-kappaB (1.84+/-0.176) and TNF-alpha (1.51+/-0.203) a little bit. However, the C terminus of IkappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha244C) increased the transcription of NF-kappaB, TNF-alpha, p53 and Bax significantly (8.29+/-1.662, 14.16+/-2.121, 10.2+/-0.621, 3.72+/-0.346) (P<0.05). The CCK-8 experiment also showed that IkappaBalpha244C and p53 synergistically mediate apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
IkappaBalpha and its mutants (IkappaBalphaM, IkappaBalpha243N, IkappaBalphaM244C) have different effects on NF-kappaB and p53 signaling pathways, according to their different structures. IkappaBalphaM bounds with NF-kappaB and p53 in cytoplasm steadily, and inhibits both of the two signaling pathways. p53 and IkappaBalpha244C may be co-factor in inducing apoptosis. The C terminal of IkappaBalpha enhanced cell death, which suggests that it may be a pro-apoptotic protein existed in cells.
Li
Xian
X
Institute of Laser Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, Guangdong Province, China.
Xing
Da
D
Wang
Ju
J
Zhu
De-Bin
DB
Zhang
Lan
L
Chen
Xiao-Jia
XJ
Sun
Fen-Yong
FY
Hong
An
A
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C413663:fluorescent protein 583; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha