Transcriptional regulation of NF-kappa B2: evidence for kappa B-mediated positive and negative autoregulation

Mol Cell Biol. 1994 Dec;14(12):7695-703. doi: 10.1128/mcb.14.12.7695-7703.1994.

Abstract

NF-kappa B is an inducible transcription factor complex which regulates the expression of a variety of genes which are involved in the immune, inflammatory, and acute-phase responses. The maintenance of NF-kappa B activity in stimulated cells requires ongoing protein synthesis, suggesting several modes of regulation. In this report, we have characterized the transcriptional regulation of one family member, NF-kappa B2. The genomic structure and sequence of NF-kappa B2 revealed the presence of two promoters and at least four kappa B regulatory elements, which mediate responsiveness to phorbol myristate acetate and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Similar to other NF-kappa B family members, NF-kappa B2 is positively autoregulated. In contrast to other family members, we find that kappa B elements in the NFKB2 promoter can also mediate transcriptional repression in the absence of NF-kappa B. We identified a nuclear complex which binds specifically to a subset of kappa B-related sites but not to the canonical kappa B element. Because of its putative inhibitory or repressive effect, this binding activity has been termed Rep-kappa B. This mechanism of repressing basal NF-kappa B2 transcription in an inactivated state enables the cell to tightly control NF-kappa B2 activity. These data demonstrate that a novel mode of kappa B-dependent regulation is mediated by specific kappa B sites in the NFKB2 promoter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Cytokines / pharmacology
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genes
  • Humans
  • Mitogens / pharmacology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B p52 Subunit
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Mitogens
  • NF-kappa B
  • NF-kappa B p52 Subunit
  • Nuclear Proteins

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U20816