Project description:Protein dynamics involving higher-energy sparsely populated conformational substates are frequently critical for protein function. This study describes the dynamics of the homodimer (p50)2 of the p50 Rel homology region (RHR) of the transcription factor NF-κB, using 13C relaxation dispersion experiments with specifically (13C, 1H)-labeled methyl groups of Ile (δ), Leu and Val. Free (p50)2 is highly dynamic in solution, showing μs-ms relaxation dispersion consistent with exchange between the ground state and higher energy substates. These fluctuations propagate from the DNA-binding loops through the core of the domain. The motions are damped in the presence of κB DNA, but the NMR spectra of the DNA complexes reveal multiple local conformations of the p50 RHR homodimer bound to certain κB DNA sequences. Varying the length and sequence of κB DNA revealed two factors that promote a single bound conformation for the complex: the length of the κB site in the duplex and a symmetrical sequence of guanine nucleotides at both ends of the recognition motif. The dynamic nature of the DNA-binding loops, together with the multiple bound conformations of p50 RHR with certain κB sites, is consistent with variations in the transcriptional activity of the p50 homodimer with different κB sequences.
Project description:Leishmania amazonensis activates the NF-κB transcriptional repressor homodimer (p50/p50) and promotes nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) downregulation. We investigated the role of PI3K/Akt in p50/p50 NF-κB activation and the effect on iNOS expression in L. amazonensis infection. The increased occupancy of p50/p50 on the iNOS promoter of infected macrophages was observed and we demonstrated that both p50/p50 NF-κB induction and iNOS downregulation in infected macrophages depended on PI3K/Akt activation. Importantly, the intracellular growth of the parasite was also impaired during PI3K/Akt signalling inhibition and in macrophages knocked-down for Akt 1 expression. It was also observed that the increased nuclear levels of p50/p50 in L. amazonensis-infected macrophages were associated with reduced phosphorylation of 907 Ser p105, the precursor of p50. Corroborating these data, we demonstrated the increased levels of phospho-9 Ser GSK3β in infected macrophages, which is associated with GSK3β inhibition and, consequently, its inability to phosphorylate p105. Remarkably, we found that the levels of pPTEN 370 Ser, a negative regulator of PI3K, increased due to L. amazonensis infection. Our data support the notion that PI3K/Akt activity is sustained during the parasite infection, leading to NF-κB 105 phosphorylation and further processing to originate p50/p50 homodimers and the consequent downregulation of iNOS expression.
Project description:As part of the efforts to understand nuclear IκB function in NF-κB-dependent gene expression, we report an X-ray crystal structure of the IκBζ ankyrin repeat domain in complex with the dimerization domain of the NF-κB p50 homodimer. IκBζ possesses an N-terminal α helix that conveys domain folding stability. Affinity and specificity of the complex depend on a small portion of p50 at the nuclear localization signal. The model suggests that only one p50 subunit supports binding with IκBζ, and biochemical experiments confirm that IκBζ associates with DNA-bound NF-κB p50:RelA heterodimers. Comparisons of IκBζ:p50 and p50:κB DNA complex crystallographic models indicate that structural rearrangement is necessary for ternary complex formation of IκBζ and p50 with DNA.
Project description:Phosphorylation of the NF-κB transcription factor is an important regulatory mechanism for the control of transcription. Here we identify serine 80 (S80) as a phosphorylation site on the p50 subunit of NF-κB, and IKKβ as a p50 kinase. Transcriptomic analysis of cells expressing a p50 S80A mutant reveals a critical role for S80 in selectively regulating the TNFα inducible expression of a subset of NF-κB target genes including pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. S80 phosphorylation regulates the binding of p50 to NF-κB binding (κB) sites in a sequence specific manner. Specifically, phosphorylation of S80 reduces the binding of p50 at κB sites with an adenine at the -1 position. Our analyses demonstrate that p50 S80 phosphorylation predominantly regulates transcription through the p50:p65 heterodimer, where S80 phosphorylation acts in trans to limit the NF-κB mediated transcription of pro-inflammatory genes. The regulation of a functional class of pro-inflammatory genes by the interaction of S80 phosphorylated p50 with a specific κB sequence describes a novel mechanism for the control of cytokine-induced transcriptional responses.
Project description:PD-1 is a co-repressive receptor that curbs T cell activation and thereby serves as a protection mechanism against autoimmunity under physiological conditions. Under pathological conditions, tumor cells express PD-L1 as an adaptive resistant mechanism to suppress PD-1+ T cells to evade host immunosurveillance. PD-1 therefore is a key target in cancer immunotherapy. Despite the extensive studies of PD-1 expression regulation, the pdcd1 transcription machinery and regulatory mechanisms are still not fully understood. We report here that the NF-κB p50 homodimer is a transcription regulator of PD-1 in activated T cells. A putative κB sequence exists at the pdcd1 promoter. All five NF-κB Rel subunits are activated in activated T cells. However, only the p50 homodimer directly binds to the κB sequence at the pccd1 promoter in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Deficiency in p50 results in reduced PD-1 expression in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vitro. Using an in vivo mixed bone marrow chimera mouse model, we show that p50 regulates PD-1 expression in a cell-intrinsic way and p50 deficiency leads to decreased PD-1 expression in both antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in vivo. The expression levels of H3K4me3-specific histone methyltransferase increased significantly, resulting in a significant increase in H3K4me3 deposition at the pdcd1 promoter in activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Inhibition of H3K4me3 significantly decreased p50 binding to the pdcd1 promoter and PD-1 expression in a T cell line. Our findings determine that the p50-H3K4me3 axis regulates pdcd1 transcription activation in activated T cells.
Project description:The mammalian NF-κB p52:p52 homodimer together with its cofactor Bcl3 activates transcription of κB sites with a central G/C base pair (bp), while it is inactive toward κB sites with a central A/T bp. To understand the molecular basis for this unique property of p52, we have determined the crystal structures of recombinant human p52 protein in complex with a P-selectin(PSel)-κB DNA (5'-GGGGTGACCCC-3') (central bp is underlined) and variants changing the central bp to A/T or swapping the flanking bp. The structures reveal a nearly two-fold widened minor groove in the central region of the DNA as compared to all other currently available NF-κB-DNA complex structures, which have a central A/T bp. Microsecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of free DNAs and p52 bound complexes reveal that free DNAs exhibit distinct preferred conformations, and p52:p52 homodimer induces the least amount of DNA conformational changes when bound to the more transcriptionally active natural G/C-centric PSel-κB, but adopts closed conformation when bound to the mutant A/T and swap DNAs due to their narrowed minor grooves. Our binding assays further demonstrate that the fast kinetics favored by entropy is correlated with higher transcriptional activity. Overall, our studies have revealed a novel conformation for κB DNA in complex with NF-κB and pinpoint the importance of binding kinetics, dictated by DNA conformational and dynamic states, in controlling transcriptional activation for NF-κB.
Project description:M1 and M2 macrophage phenotypes, which mediate proinflammatory and antiinflammatory functions, respectively, represent the extremes of immunoregulatory plasticity in the macrophage population. This plasticity can also result in intermediate macrophage states that support a balance between these opposing functions. In sepsis, M1 macrophages can compensate for hyperinflammation by acquiring an M2-like immunosuppressed status that increases the risk of secondary infection and death. The M1 to M2 macrophage reprogramming that develops during LPS tolerance resembles the pathological antiinflammatory response to sepsis. Here, we determined that p21 regulates macrophage reprogramming by shifting the balance between active p65-p50 and inhibitory p50-p50 NF-κB pathways. p21 deficiency reduced the DNA-binding affinity of the p50-p50 homodimer in LPS-primed and -rechallenged macrophages, impairing their ability to attenuate IFN-β production and acquire an M2-like hyporesponsive status. High p21 levels in sepsis patients correlated with low IFN-β expression, and p21 knockdown in human monocytes corroborated its role in IFN-β regulation. The data demonstrate that p21 adjusts the equilibrium between p65-p50 and p50-p50 NF-κB pathways to mediate macrophage plasticity in LPS tolerance. Identifying p21-related pathways involved in monocyte reprogramming may lead to potential targets for sepsis treatment.
Project description:The NF-κB transcription factors are known to be extensively phosphorylated, with dynamic site-specific modification regulating their ability to dimerize and interact with DNA. p50, the proteolytic product of p105 (NF-κB1), forms homodimers that bind DNA but lack intrinsic transactivation function, functioning as repressors of transcription from κB promoters. Here, we examine the roles of specific phosphorylation events catalysed by either protein kinase A (PKAc) or Chk1, in regulating the functions of p50 homodimers. LC-MS/MS analysis of proteolysed p50 following in vitro phosphorylation allows us to define Ser328 and Ser337 as PKAc- and Chk1-mediated modifications, and pinpoint an additional four Chk1 phosphosites: Ser65, Thr152, Ser242 and Ser248. Native mass spectrometry (MS) reveals Chk1- and PKAc-regulated disruption of p50 homodimer formation through Ser337. Additionally, we characterise the Chk1-mediated phosphosite, Ser242, as a regulator of DNA binding, with a S242D p50 phosphomimetic exhibiting a > 10-fold reduction in DNA binding affinity. Conformational dynamics of phosphomimetic p50 variants, including S242D, are further explored using ion-mobility MS (IM-MS). Finally, comparative theoretical modelling with experimentally observed p50 conformers, in the absence and presence of DNA, reveals that the p50 homodimer undergoes conformational contraction during electrospray ionisation that is stabilised by complex formation with κB DNA. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.
Project description:Redox-signaling is implicated in deleterious microglial activation underlying CNS disease, but how ROS program aberrant microglial function is unknown. Here, the oxidation of NF-κB p50 to a free radical intermediate is identified as a marker of dysfunctional M1 (pro-inflammatory) polarization in microglia. Microglia exposed to steady fluxes of H2 O2 showed altered NF-κB p50 protein-protein interactions, decreased NF-κB p50 DNA binding, and augmented late-stage TNFα expression, indicating that H2 O2 impairs NF-κB p50 function and prolongs amplified M1 activation. NF-κB p50(-/-) mice and cultures exhibited a disrupted M2 (alternative) response and impaired resolution of the M1 response. Persistent neuroinflammation continued 1 week after LPS (1 mg/kg, IP) administration in the NF-κB p50(-/-) mice. However, peripheral inflammation had already resolved in both strains of mice. Treatment with the spin-trap DMPO mildly reduced LPS-induced 22 h TNFα in the brain in NF-κB p50(+/+) mice. Interestingly, DMPO failed to reduce and strongly augmented brain TNFα production in NF-κB p50(-/-) mice, implicating a fundamental role for NF-κB p50 in the regulation of chronic neuroinflammation by free radicals. These data identify NF-κB p50 as a key redox-signaling mechanism regulating the M1/M2 balance in microglia, where loss of function leads to a CNS-specific vulnerability to chronic inflammation.
Project description:BackgroundUrothelial carcinoma (UC) is the fifth most common malignancy that accounts for 5% of all cancers. Diagnostic markers that predict UC progressions are inadequate. NF-κB contributes towards disease progression upon constitutive activation in many solid tumors. The nuclear localization of NF-κB indicates increased transcriptional activity while cytoplasmic localization indicates the inactive protein repository that can be utilized readily by a malignant cell. This study delineates the nuclear and cytoplasmic differential expression of NF-κB heterodimers in UC progression.MethodsThe involvement of the NF-κB proteins in UC was analyzed in silico using cytoscape. The expression of NF-κB heterodimers was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsPINA4MS app in cytoscape revealed over expression of RelA and suppression of NF-κB1 (p50 precursor) in UC whereas the expression of NF-κB target proteins remained unhindered. Immunohistochemical localization showed nuclear RelA/p50 in low grade UC whereas in high grade only RelA expression was observed. Conversely, cytoplasmic expression of RelA/p50 remained extensive across high and low grade UC tissues (p < 0.005). RelA nuclear and cytoplasmic expression (p < 0.005) was directly proportional to the disease progression. In our study, some of the high-grade UC tissues with squamous differentiation and muscle invasion had extensive nuclear p50 localization. The phenomenon of RelA/p50 expression seen increased in low-grade UC than high grade UC might be due to their interaction with other members of NF-κB family of proteins. Thus, NF-κB RelA/p50 differential expression may play a unique role in UC pathogenesis and can serve as a biomarker for diagnosis.