General Description
The transcription factor NFkappaB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) is involved in the expression and regulation of a number of important cellular and physiological processes such as growth, development, apoptosis, immune and inflammatory response, and activation of various viral promoters including human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeats. NFkappaB represents a group of structurally related and evolutionarily conserved proteins related to the proto-oncogene c-Rel with five members in mammals that include Rel (cRel), RelA (p65), RelB, NFkappaB1 (p50 and its precursor p105), and NFkappaB2 (p52 and its precursor p100). NFkappaB/Rel proteins exist as homo- or heterodimers to form transcriptionally competent or repressive complexes. Although most NFkappaB dimers are activators of transcription, the p50/50 and p52/52 homodimers can repress the transcription of their target genes. The p50/p65 heterodimer of NFkappaB is the most abundant in cells.
