Description | Transcription factors of the Rel/NF-kB family are ubiquitous in cells and are activated in response to signals that lead to cell growth, differentiation, inflammation and apoptosis, and these proteins are critical in the regulation of immune responses. NF-kB transcription factors are transcriptional activators that are induced by many agents such as TNF or PMA that affect PKA or PKC mediated signals. The NF-kB transcription factor was originally identified as a protein complex consisting of a 65 kDa DNA binding subunit and an associated 50 kDa protein. The 65 kDa subunit, also referred to as Rel A, is functionally related to c-Rel p75 and to the more recently described Rel B p68. The p50 subunit of NF-kB is derived from the amino terminus of a precursor designated p105. A second protein designated p52 (previously referred to as p49) has also been identified and can act as an alternative to p50 in NF-kB heterodimers. |
