The NF-kappa B p50 precursor, p105, contains an internal I kappa B-like inhibitor that preferentially inhibits p50

Diverse molecular mechanisms of inhibition of NF-kappa B/DNA binding complexes by I kappa B proteins

The activity of the rel/NF-kappa B/dorsal family of kappa B site binding proteins is regulated by I kappa B proteins. The ankyrin repeat motif identified I kappa B family members, which include I kappa B alpha (pp40/MAD-3), I kappa B gamma, and bcl3, directly associated with kappa B site binding proteins, resulting in specific DNA-binding inhibition of rel, p50, or p65 dimers. We report that I kappa B gamma, containing eight ankyrin repeats, mediates a reversible inhibition of (p50)2-DNA complex but cannot displace preformed DNA-protein complexes. I kappa B alpha and bcl3, on the other hand, can displace preformed DNA-protein complexes. I kappa B alpha specifically displaces (p65)2 or p50/p65-DNA complexes but requires the C-terminal 37 amino acids in addition to the ankyrin repeat domain. Human bcl3 protein specifically displaces (p50)2-DNA complexes. Because I kappa B alpha and bcl3 can displace preformed (p65)2 or (p50)2-DNA complexes, respectively, we propose that they can act as repressors or antirepressors of NF-kappa B-induced gene expression.

Tissue-specific RNA splicing generates an ankyrin-like domain that affects the dimerization and DNA-binding properties of a bHLH protein

mRNAs encoding two rat bHLH proteins, referred to as REB alpha and REB beta, have been identified as alternatively spliced transcripts derived from a single genomic locus. Alternative RNA processing events results in tissue-specific differences in the ratios of these two mRNAs. Although it exhibits a highly enriched level of expression in the developing neural tube, the REB gene is expressed at variable levels in many organs of the mature animal. The REB alpha sequence contains a region characterized by a leucine heptad repeat that is situated amino-terminal of the carboxy-terminally located bHLH domain. REB beta is identical to REB alpha except for a 24-amino-acid insertion in the leucine heptad repeat that results from the inclusion of an additional 72-bp exon in the REB beta transcript. As a consequence of this insertion, REB beta exhibits a markedly diminished capacity to bind to cognate E-box-binding sites and to form homodimers and heterodimers with other members of the bHLH gene family. Analysis of the 24-amino-acid REB beta-specific insert revealed that it mediates an inhibitory function and exhibits a significant degree of sequence similarity to ankyrin-like repeats. It is proposed that this tissue-specific pattern of REB RNA splicing is involved in the determination of corresponding tissue-specific combinations of heterodimeric complexes of ubiquitous and tissue-restricted bHLH proteins. Thus, REB alpha and REB beta represent a novel example of a regulated formation of an ankyrin-like domain within a bHLH protein, thereby mediating control of protein-protein interactions.