title: Novel functions of chromatin-bound IκBα in oncogenic transformation.
abstract: The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway participates in a multitude of biological processes, which imply the requirement of a complex and precise regulation. IκB (for Inhibitor of kappaB) proteins, which bind and retain NF-κB dimers in the cytoplasm, are the main contributors to negative regulation of NF-κB under non-stimulation conditions. Nevertheless, increasing evidences indicate that IκB proteins exert specific nuclear roles that directly contribute to the control of gene transcription. In particular, hypophosphorylated IκBβ can bind the promoter region of TNFα leading to persistent gene transcription in macrophages and contributing to the regulation of the inflammatory response. Recently, we demonstrated that phosphorylated and SUMOylated IκBα reside in the nucleus of the cells where it binds to chromatin leading to specific transcriptional repression. Mechanistically, IκBα associates and regulates Polycomb Repressor Complex activity, a function that is evolutionary conserved from flies to mammals, as indicate the homeotic phenotype of Drosophila mutants. Here we discuss the implications of chromatin-bound IκBα function in the context of tumorigenesis.
authors.affiliation: Program in Cancer Research, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Program in Cancer Research, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bigas
authors.affiliation: Program in Cancer Research, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader, 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mulero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha