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J Biol Chem, Vol. 274, Issue 39, 27339-27342, September 24, 1999

MINIREVIEW
The Beginning of the End: Ikappa B Kinase (IKK) and NF-kappa B Activation*

Michael KarinDagger

From the Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0636

    INTRODUCTION
TOP
INTRODUCTION
Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
Ikappa B Kinase and Its...
IKK Function
REFERENCES

NF-kappa B/Rel proteins are dimeric, sequence-specific transcription factors that control a variety of important biological decisions from formation of dorsal-ventral polarity in insects to activation of inflammatory and innate immune responses (reviewed in Ref. 1). NF-kappa B proteins are related through the Rel homology domain (RHD),1 which subjects them to a particular type of regulation, centered around nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling (reviewed in Ref. 2). The RHD serves several functions. It is the dimerization and DNA binding domain, and we have learned in atomic detail how RHDs dimerize and interact with DNA (3). In addition, the RHD contains a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and most importantly it is the site for binding of inhibitors of NF-kappa B, the Ikappa Bs (reviewed in Ref. 2). The Ikappa Bs also form a small family with a core composed of six or more ankyrin repeats, an N-terminal regulatory domain, and a C-terminal domain that contains a PEST motif (reviewed in Ref. 2). By binding to NF-kappa B dimers, the Ikappa Bs mask their NLS and cause their cytoplasmic retention. Some Ikappa Bs, such as Ikappa Balpha , contain a nuclear export sequence and when combining with NF-kappa B dimers in the nucleus (which the Ikappa Bs can presumably enter by diffusion) cause their exportin-mediated transport to the cytoplasm (4). Recently the three-dimensional structures of NF-kappa B·Ikappa B ternary complexes (composed of the RHDs of p50 and p65 and the ankyrin repeat core of Ikappa Balpha ) were solved (5, 6). These fascinating structures indicate that the ankyrin repeats of Ikappa Balpha form a slightly bent cylinder through a stacked arrangement of alpha -helices that compose their ankyrin repeats. The peptide loops that connect these helices make specific contacts with the two RHDs, whose N-terminal Ig-like repeats flank the Ikappa B core; the C-terminal Ig-like repeats (responsible for dimerization) contact each other with the Ikappa B cylinder lying on top of them. Although the structures solved by two independent groups differ on the way by which Ikappa B masks the NLS located next to the C-terminal Ig-like repeats of the RHDs (5, 6) it is likely that the first two ankyrin repeats sterically hinder the binding of importins to the NLS of NF-kappa B.

    Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
TOP
INTRODUCTION
Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
Ikappa B Kinase and Its...
IKK Function
REFERENCES

Initially, NF-kappa B was thought to be a B cell-specific transcription factor (1). However, it was quickly recognized that NF-kappa B activity can be induced in most cell types upon treatment with phorbol esters, the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin 1 (IL-1) and bacterial endotoxin. Subsequently, the list of NF-kappa B inducers has grown to contain double-stranded (ds) RNA, viruses, and the Tax protein of HTLV-1. It was also recognized that upon cell stimulation with these inducers, NF-kappa B dimers translocate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where they bind target genes and regulate their transcription. Subsequently, the nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B was found to parallel and depend on induced degradation of Ikappa Bs (reviewed in Refs. 2 and 7).

Potent NF-kappa B activators can induce almost complete degradation of Ikappa Bs (especially Ikappa Balpha ) within minutes. This process, which is mediated by the 26 S proteasome (8, 9), depends on phosphorylation of two conserved serines (Ser-32 and Ser-36 in Ikappa Balpha ) in the N-terminal regulatory domain of Ikappa B (10-12). Homologous serines are also required for degradation of the Drosophila Ikappa B homolog, Cactus (13). Even the substitution of a single serine can considerably inhibit Ikappa B degradation. Furthermore, these serines cannot be replaced by threonine, indicating that the kinase that phosphorylates them is serine-specific (12). In the presence of proteasome inhibitors, N-terminally phosphorylated Ikappa Balpha accumulates very rapidly, indicating that its phosphorylation precedes its degradation and does not result in dissociation from NF-kappa B (8, 9). Phosphorylated Ikappa Bs undergo without delay a second post-translational modification, polyubiquitination. The major acceptor sites for ubiquitin in Ikappa Balpha are arginines 21 and 22, whose substitution with lysines considerably retards its degradation (12, 14).

Polyubiquitination involves a cascade of enzymatic reactions, the first of which is ATP-dependent and catalyzed by E1 ubiquitin-activating enzyme to form an E1-ubiquitin thioester. The second reaction is catalyzed by the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, which receive activated ubiquitin from E1. The last step in the cascade, the transfer of activated ubiquitin from the E2-ubiquitin intermediate to the substrate, is catalyzed by a third group of enzymes, the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases (15). The E3 group is very heterogeneous, and most of its members are poorly characterized. Recently, a cell-free system that catalyzes the ubiquitination of N-terminally phosphorylated Ikappa Balpha was established and used to show that the only regulated step in the Ikappa B degradation pathway is the phosphorylation reaction (16). By contrast, the ubiquitinating activity that specifically recognizes phosphorylated Ikappa B is constitutive. Most importantly, Yaron et al. (17) have elegantly employed this cell-free system and cutting edge protein purification and sequence determination technology to molecularly identify the recognition component of the phospho-Ikappa B-specific E3 activity. This protein, named E3RSIkappa B, is a member of the F-box/WD-repeat family (reviewed in Ref. 18). Interestingly, other members of this family, which contain an F-box and one or two WD or leucine-rich repeats, are essential components of E3 activities involved in regulated protein degradation (19-21). In the case of E3RSIkappa B, Cdc4, and Grr1, recognition of the phosphoamino acid embedded within a specific sequence is believed to be mediated by the WD repeats (17, 18). The F box, on the other hand, is responsible for binding to Skp1, which in turn binds to members of the Cullin family, such as Cdc53 (20, 21). The Cullin subunit of the E3 complex appears to be responsible for recruitment of E2-ubiquitin onto the phosphorylated substrate (18).

E3RSIkappa B is identical to beta -TrCP, which was previously isolated via a two-hybrid screen as a protein that binds to the phosphorylated version of the HIV protein Vpu (22). Phospho-Vpu binds CD4, a T cell membrane protein, to induce its ubiquitination and degradation. Curiously, Vpu contains a sequence very similar to the one surrounding the phosphoacceptor sites of Ikappa Bs (Fig. 1). The same sequence is also present in beta -catenin, another protein whose abundance is regulated via a ubiquitin-dependent degradation pathway (23). Furthermore, genetic analysis has shown that degradation of the Drosophila beta -catenin homolog Armadillo depends on a homolog of E3RSIkappa B called Slimb (24). Thus, rather than serving as a recognition sequence for the Ikappa B kinase, the conserved sequence surrounding the Ikappa B N-terminal phosphoacceptor sites is a recognition site for E3RSIkappa B, whose binding to Ikappa B is strictly dependent on phosphorylation of these sites (17). Indeed, the sequence similarity between the Ikappa B and beta -catenin phosphorylation sites led other investigators to examine and confirm the involvement of beta -TrCP in Ikappa B ubiquitination and degradation (25). Coimmunoprecipitation experiments show that like other F box proteins, E3RSIkappa B also associates with Skp1 and Cul1 (25). However, it remains to be established whether Cul1 rather than other Cullins is a physiological component of the E3Ikappa B complex. In addition, the particular E2 that works in conjunction with E3Ikappa B in vivo needs to be identified.


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Fig. 1.   Alignment of phosphorylation sites that dictate the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Ikappa B proteins, beta -catenin and Vpu (it is actually CD4 to which Vpu binds that is being degraded). The consensus sequence for recognition by E3RSIkappa B/beta -TrCP is indicated. SP, phosphoserine; Psi , hydrophobic amino acid; X, any amino acid.


    Ikappa B Kinase and Its Regulation
TOP
INTRODUCTION
Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
Ikappa B Kinase and Its...
IKK Function
REFERENCES

The enzymes that catalyze the ubiquitination of phospho-Ikappa B are constitutively active. Therefore the regulated step that dictates the fate of Ikappa B is in most cases phosphorylation of the two N-terminal serines. As the E3Ikappa B complex may also be involved in degradation of CD4 and beta -catenin, the phosphorylation step is also the one responsible for specificity in this pathway. There are only two exceptions to this universal pathway for NF-kappa B activation. The first is activation of NF-kappa B in response to UV radiation, which although dependent on Ikappa B degradation does not involve Ikappa B phosphorylation at the N-terminal sites (26, 27). The second exception is anoxia, which stimulates phosphorylation of Ikappa Balpha at tyrosine 42 (28). The tyrosine-phosphorylated Ikappa Balpha was suggested to bind to the SH2 domain of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, which yanks it away from NF-kappa B (29). Tyrosine 42, however, is not conserved in other Ikappa Bs, and therefore the universality of this pathway is questionable. The control of Ikappa B phosphorylation in response to all other NF-kappa B activating stimuli rests on the shoulders of the Ikappa B kinase (IKK) complex.

Once it became clear that the key step in NF-kappa B activation was Ikappa B phosphorylation, a search for a stimulus-responsive protein kinase catalyzing this event was initiated. This effort bore fruit when a protein kinase activity that is specific for the N-terminal regulatory serines of Ikappa Bs was identified (30, 31). This activity, named IKK, is serine-specific and responsive to a number of potent NF-kappa B activators, most notably TNF and IL-1, which stimulate its activity with kinetics that match those of Ikappa Balpha degradation (30). Furthermore, the extent to which IKK is activated seems to dictate the kinetics of Ikappa B degradation. Gel filtration experiments suggest that IKK is a protein complex, and indeed protein purification, microsequencing, and molecular cloning resulted in identification of three IKK polypeptides. Two of these polypeptides, IKKalpha (IKK1) and IKKbeta (IKK1), are catalytic subunits (30-33), whereas the third polypeptide, IKKgamma (also known as NEMO), is regulatory (34, 35).

IKKalpha was also isolated through a two-hybrid screen as a protein that interacts with the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), NIK (36). Although in overexpression experiments NIK acts as a potent IKK and NF-kappa B activator (36-39), recent experiments question its involvement in IKK activation by either TNF or IL-1 (40). Furthermore, interaction between NIK and IKKalpha occurs upon overexpression of the two in mammalian cells but was not detected under physiological conditions. In addition, the IKKalpha subunit, which was proposed to be the preferential target for NIK (41), is not directly involved in IKK activation (42).

IKKalpha and IKKbeta have very similar primary structures (52% overall identity) with protein kinase domains at their N terminus, a leucine zipper (LZ), and a helix-loop-helix (HLH) motif at their C-terminal portion (Fig. 2). IKKgamma /NEMO does not contain a recognizable catalytic domain but is composed mostly of three large alpha -helical regions, including a LZ (Fig. 2). Biochemical analysis indicates that the predominant form of IKK is an IKK·IKKbeta heterodimer associated with either a dimer or trimer of IKKgamma (34). An IKK complex-associated protein (IKAP) has also been described and proposed to be involved in IKK activation (43) but is not a readily detected constituent of the IKK complex; therefore its physiological significance and function are not clear.


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Fig. 2.   The three components of IKK. The major structural and functional motifs of IKKalpha , IKKbeta , and IKKgamma are indicated. KD, kinase domain. The open boxes in IKKgamma indicate alpha -helical regions within them, the hatched boxes denote coiled coil and leucine zipper (LZ) motifs.

Native IKK complexes purified from mammalian cells seem to be assembled from IKKalpha ·IKKbeta heterodimers plus an undetermined number of IKKgamma subunits (34). Yet, cross-linking experiments indicate that in vitro IKKalpha and IKKbeta can form both homo- and heterodimers in a manner that depends on integrity of their LZ motifs (33). When examined as transiently expressed proteins in mammalian cells, IKKalpha and IKKbeta exhibit identical activation kinetics and substrate specificities (31, 32). Although highly reproducible, such experiments are misleading because the transiently expressed proteins readily interchange with their endogenous counterparts and thus are incorporated into IKK complexes (32). Thus when epitope-tagged IKKalpha is precipitated and its associated Ikappa B kinase activity is measured it is not clear whether one measures its activity or those of endogenous IKKalpha or IKKbeta with which it associates. Indeed, transiently expressed catalytically inactive IKKalpha and IKKbeta associate with a substantial amount of cytokine-inducible Ikappa B kinase activity (32). Nevertheless, overexpression of catalytically inactive IKKalpha or IKKbeta inhibits NF-kappa B activation in response to TNF, measured by translocation of p65/RelA to the nucleus (32).

The kinase activities of IKKalpha and IKKbeta or their abilities to be activated depend on LZ-mediated dimerization, and LZ mutations that interfere with this process abolish kinase activity (32, 33). IKKalpha or IKKbeta activity is also abolished by mutations within the HLH motif (32, 33). These mutations, however, do not interfere with dimerization or binding to IKKgamma . Rather, the HLH motif interacts with the kinase domain and can stimulate its activity when expressed in trans (42). IKK activation also requires an intact IKKgamma subunit. No IKK or NF-kappa B activity can be elicited in IKKgamma /NEMO-deficient cells that are treated with TNF, IL-1, endotoxin, or dsRNA (35). In addition, IKK complexes assembled on a mutant of IKKgamma that lacks its C-terminal LZ are refractory to all of these agonists (34). These results provide a genetic proof for the importance of IKK in NF-kappa B activation and suggest that the C-terminal region of IKKgamma is necessary for recruitment of upstream activators.

Activation of IKK depends on phosphorylation of its IKKbeta subunit (42). The first evidence for the role of phosphorylation was obtained by treatment of purified, activated IKK complex with protein phosphatase 2A, which resulted in its inactivation (30). Furthermore, treatment of cells with protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor results in activation of IKK (and NF-kappa B). More recently, incubation of cells with TNF was shown to stimulate the phosphorylation of all three IKK subunits (42). IKKalpha and IKKbeta are phosphorylated exclusively at serines. The location of these serines was biochemically mapped for IKKbeta , and by conjecture it can be assumed that equivalent sites are phosphorylated on IKKalpha . Two of the IKKbeta phosphoacceptors are located in its activation loop (42), a portion of the kinase domain that is involved in phosphorylation-dependent activation of other protein kinases (44). The non-phosphorylated form of the activation loop folds back onto the kinase domain and interferes with entry of ATP and peptide substrates into the catalytic pocket. Phosphorylation moves the activation loop away from the catalytic pocket, thus allowing its interaction with substrates (45). Replacement of the two phosphoacceptor serines (Ser-177 and Ser-181) of IKKbeta with alanines prevents activation, whereas their replacement with phosphomimetic glutamate residues results in constitutive activation (31, 42). Interestingly, however, replacement of the two equivalent serines (Ser-176 and Ser-180) in IKKalpha abolishes autophosphorylation of this subunit but has no effect on stimulation of total IKK activity by TNF, IL-1, or the upstream kinases MEKK1 and NIK (42). These results, which underscore the biochemical differences between the two catalytic subunits, strongly suggest that IKK is activated as a result of IKKbeta phosphorylation and that IKKalpha phosphorylation, although concurrent with that of IKKbeta , is not essential for stimulation of Ikappa B kinase activity. In other words, the IKKbeta subunit and not IKKalpha serves as the target for upstream activators involved in proinflammatory signaling that are recruited to the complex via IKKgamma .

Phosphorylation is also involved in negative regulation of IKK activity. In addition to the activation loop, IKKbeta is extensively phosphorylated at its C-terminal region, which contains multiple serines (42). Phosphorylation of these sites depends on autokinase activity. Mutagenesis experiments indicate that the C-terminal autophosphorylation sites are involved in shutoff of kinase activity (42). Replacement of 9 or 10 of the C-terminal serines with alanines results in a mutant whose activation lasts four times longer than that of the wild-type enzyme, whereas substitution of the same sites with phosphomimetic glutamic acid residues results in a mutant enzyme that can hardly be activated. Based on these results, a three-state model was proposed to explain the regulation of IKK activity (42). Initially, the inactive IKK complex is not phosphorylated on its catalytic subunits. In response to upstream stimuli, IKK-Ks are activated and recruited to the complex via IKKgamma . This results in phosphorylation of IKKbeta and activation of IKK. We presume that initially only a small fraction of IKK is activated through direct phosphorylation by IKK-Ks. However, through intramolecular trans-autophosphorylation the activated IKKbeta subunit can phosphorylate the adjacent subunit, which can be either IKKalpha or IKKbeta (in the case of a homodimer), as well as other inactive IKK complexes through an intermolecular reaction. Indeed, the mere overexpression of IKKbeta in Sf9 cells is sufficient for its activation, which depends on autophosphorylation at the activation loop. The activated IKK complexes phosphorylate the Ikappa B subunits of NF-kappa B·Ikappa B complexes, triggering their ubiquitin-dependent degradation and activation of NF-kappa B. Concurrently, the activated IKKbeta subunits (and presumably the IKKalpha subunits as well) undergo C-terminal autophosphorylation. This reaction, which is unlikely to be processive, operates as a timing device such that when at least nine of the C-terminal serines are phosphorylated the enzyme reaches a low activity state. This facilitates inactivation of IKK by phosphatases once the upstream signal has disappeared. As the C-terminal autophosphorylation sites are adjacent to the HLH motif they may exert their negative effect on kinase activity by changing the conformation of this intrinsic activator domain and affecting its interaction with the kinase domain. This mode of regulation explains why IKK is usually activated in a highly transient fashion. Because of the ability of IKKbeta to propagate its active state via autophosphorylation at the activation loop it is important to have an active way to reduce kinase activity and render it sensitive to inactivation by a phosphatase. Without this prolonged IKK activation would result in prolonged NF-kappa B activation followed by increased production of both primary and secondary inflammatory mediators. As these mediators can lead to further NF-kappa B activation (46), there is a genuine risk that in the absence of an efficient way to rapidly terminate both IKK and NF-kappa B activities even a minor proinflammatory insult would result in a major catastrophe, such as septic shock. Interestingly, constitutive IKK activation was recently detected in Hodgkin's disease cells (47). This results in constitutive NF-kappa B activation, which protects these cells from induction of apoptosis by radio- and chemotherapy (48). In fact, elevated NF-kappa B and IKK activity may protect numerous types of tumors from apoptosis-inducing therapies (49). Thus, IKK offers a reasonable target for development of new anti-tumor drugs.


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Fig. 3.   A three-step model for regulation of IKK activity by phosphorylation. In non-stimulated cells the two catalytic subunits of IKK (IKKalpha and IKKbeta ) are associated into a heterodimer via their LZs. In this state the activation loop within the kinase domain (KD) is not phosphorylated, the HLH motif contacts the kinase domain, and the C-terminal phosphorylation cluster is not phosphorylated either. Upon phosphorylation of the activation loop of IKKbeta and trans-autophosphorylation of the second subunit (either IKKalpha or IKKbeta , in the case of a homodimer) IKK is activated. Once activated, in addition to phosphorylation of Ikappa Bs, IKK progressively autophosphorylates at the C-terminal serine cluster. When at least nine of the C-terminal serines are phosphorylated electrostatic repulsion alters the interaction between the activating HLH motif and the kinase domain such that the kinase reaches a low activity state. At this state IKK is more prone to inhibition by phosphatase action.


    IKK Function
TOP
INTRODUCTION
Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
Ikappa B Kinase and Its...
IKK Function
REFERENCES

The presence of two closely related, yet distinct catalytic subunits within the IKK complex is a curiosity that raises a few questions and possibilities. Are IKKalpha and IKKbeta completely redundant and thus have identical functions? Alternatively, each subunit may be responsible for phosphorylation of different substrates and may even be subject to differential regulation. Initially, little differences between IKKalpha and IKKbeta were observed, and it was assumed that the two have identical function. Yet more recent experiments, discussed above, suggested that IKKbeta and not IKKalpha is involved in IKK activation by proinflammatory stimuli (42). It therefore became important to use a genetic approach to examine the relative functions of IKKalpha and IKKbeta . This was done through the use of gene targeting technology to generate mouse strains deficient in either catalytic subunit.

The first surprising result produced by these experiments was the phenotype of IKKalpha -deficient mice. The complete loss of IKKalpha results in perinatal lethality. IKKalpha -/- mice are born alive but die within 30 min (50). Newborn IKKalpha -/- mice display rudimentary limbs and tail, a large omphalocele, and severe craniofacial deformity, but most striking is their skin, which is taut, shiny, and completely devoid of wrinkles. Histopathological examination reveals that the mutant mice contain limb bones of almost normal size, but they are hidden under their thickened skin (50). The major problem with the limb bones is syndactyly and absence of phalanges, whereas more proximal elements appear normal. Other notable skeletal abnormalities include a partially split sternum, fused vertebrae, and severe truncation of the skull. Yet, the most dramatic change is in the structure of the epidermis; the mutant epidermis is up to 10-fold thicker than normal, whereas the dermis appears unaltered. Increased thickness of the mutant epidermis is due to hyperproliferation of cells at the basal layer (which is normally one cell thick). In addition, there appears to be a block to keratinocyte differentiation such that instead of having a stratified epidermis the mutant mice are covered by a uniform layer of cells. The mutant epidermis lacks the upper layer of keratinized cells resulting in increased adhesiveness and stickiness. Transverse sections reveal that mutant limbs and tail are actually "glued" back to the body (50). As epidermal thickenings, such as the apical ectodermal ridge, are an important source for morphogens that control skeletal development many of the morphogenetic defects in IKKalpha -/- mice could be secondary to a primary defect in epidermal differentiation.

The second surprise was that IKKalpha is not required for IKK activation by proinflammatory stimuli. Upon stimulation of IKKalpha -/- embryonic fibroblasts, primary keratinocytes, or liver tissue with IL-1, TNF, or endotoxin, normal IKK activation and Ikappa Balpha degradation were observed (50). Despite normal induction of IKK activity and Ikappa B degradation, IKKalpha -/- fibroblasts exhibit an approximately 50% decrease in total NF-kappa B DNA binding activity. Thus although IKKalpha does not play a primary role in IKK activation, it may still be involved in stimulating the translocation of NF-kappa B to the nucleus or enhancing its DNA binding activity. Regardless of the partial defect in NF-kappa B activation, the IKK complex in IKKalpha -/- cells is of normal size and exhibits normal regulation. As none of the currently available knockout mouse mutants that are deficient in any of the known NF-kappa B subunits or components of the IL-1 and TNF signaling pathways exhibit a similar phenotype, it is unlikely that the developmental and morphogenetic defects in IKKalpha -/- animals are caused by alterations in NF-kappa B activation. Most likely, IKKalpha regulates the activity of a key determinant of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. It is the altered regulation of this putative IKKalpha substrate that leads to the morphogenetic defects in IKKalpha -/- mice.

By contrast to IKKalpha , the IKKbeta subunit fulfills all expectations. Although its loss also results in embryonic lethality, the phenotype of IKKbeta -/- embryos is completely different from that of IKKalpha -/- embryos at the same developmental stage. IKKbeta -/- embryos die approximately at embryonic day (E) 12.5, and histopathological examination reveals that the cause of death is massive liver apoptosis (51, 52). By comparison, IKKalpha -/- embryos or neonates have a perfectly normal liver. The massive increase in apoptosis of hepatocytes in IKKbeta -/- embryos is strikingly similar to the major pathology observed in RelA-/- embryos, which die at E14.5 because of liver degeneration (53). Because mice that are deficient in both p65 (RelA) and p50 (NFkappa B1) also die at E12.5 (54), it appears that the loss of IKKbeta results in a more severe decrease in NF-kappa B activity than the loss of p65 (RelA) alone. RelA expression is needed to protect cells from TNF-induced apoptosis (55-58). Indeed, mice that lack both RelA and TNF are viable and have normally appearing liver (59). Thus the liver degeneration in RelA-/- mice is due to increased TNF-induced hepatocyte apoptosis unopposed by NF-kappa B, and most likely this is the cause of death in IKKbeta -/- embryos. Correspondingly, IKKbeta -deficient cells are unable to activate IKK or NF-kappa B in response to either TNF or IL-1 (51, 52). Thus, unlike IKKalpha , IKKbeta is absolutely required for activation of IKK and phosphorylation of Ikappa Bs.

Although these experiments provide rather definitive evidence for the different and non-overlapping functions of IKKalpha and IKKbeta they generate a new dilemma. Does IKKalpha exert its morphogenetic function as a component of the "classical" IKK complex composed of IKKalpha , IKKbeta , and IKKgamma , or does it also function as a stand-alone kinase or a component of a completely different complex (Fig. 3)? An answer to this difficult question will require extensive biochemical analysis of IKK complexes in keratinocytes, the cell type in which IKKalpha exhibits its unique function. Once the biochemical form of IKKalpha involved in keratinocyte differentiation is identified, it will be possible to determine how its activity is regulated and which of its substrates plays a fate-determining role in these cells. Despite the many remaining questions, it is satisfying to witness the rapid progress in understanding IKK function and regulation, given the rather recent discovery of this important protein kinase.

    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank B. Thompson for excellent manuscript assistance and M. Delhase, Y. Hu, and D. Rothwarf for artwork.

    FOOTNOTES

* This minireview will be reprinted in the 1999 Minireview Compendium, which will be available in December, 1999. Work in the author's laboratory is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIEHS and NIAID) and the Department of Energy.

Dagger A Frank and Else Schilling American Cancer Society Research Professor. To whom correspondence should be addressed: Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Dept. of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0636. Tel.: 619-534-1361; Fax: 619-534-8158; E-mail: karinoffice@ucsd.edu.

    ABBREVIATIONS

The abbreviations used are: RHD, Rel homology domain; NLS, nuclear localization sequence; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; IL, interleukin; IKK, Ikappa B kinase; LZ, leucine zipper; HLH, helix-loop-helix; IKAP, IKK complex-associated protein; IKK-K, IKK kinase.

    REFERENCES
TOP
INTRODUCTION
Regulation of Ikappa kB Turnover
Ikappa B Kinase and Its...
IKK Function
REFERENCES

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