Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) Recombinant Proteins are crucial for studying the NF-κB signaling pathway, which plays a vital role in regulating immune response, inflammation, cell proliferation, and survival. NF-κB is a protein complex that controls the transcription of DNA and is involved in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, cytokines, free radicals, and bacterial or viral antigens.

Technical Details

Structure:

  • NF-κB is composed of dimers formed by members of the Rel protein family, which includes p65 (RelA), RelB, c-Rel, p50, and p52.
  • The p65/p50 heterodimer is the most common and extensively studied form of NF-κB.
  • NF-κB proteins contain Rel homology domains (RHD) responsible for DNA binding, dimerization, and interaction with inhibitory IκB proteins.

Production:

  • NF-κB recombinant proteins are produced using recombinant DNA technology in systems such as E. coli, yeast, insect, or mammalian cells.
  • Recombinant production ensures high purity and functional integrity of the proteins for biochemical and cellular studies.

Applications:

  • Signal Transduction Research:
    • Used to study the NF-κB signaling pathway and its regulation.
    • Helps in understanding the mechanisms of NF-κB activation, translocation, and DNA binding.
  • Disease Research:
    • NF-κB is involved in various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases.
    • Studying NF-κB function and regulation provides insights into the pathogenesis of these conditions and potential therapeutic targets.
  • Drug Development:
    • Target for the development of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs.
    • Screening and characterization of small molecule inhibitors, peptides, and monoclonal antibodies that modulate NF-κB activity.
  • Transcriptional Regulation:
    • Investigating the role of NF-κB in regulating the expression of genes involved in immune response, apoptosis, and cell proliferation.
    • Functional assays to study NF-κB-mediated transcriptional activation.

Analytical Methods:

  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA): To study DNA-binding activity of NF-κB.
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP): To identify NF-κB target genes and binding sites in vivo.
  • Western Blotting: For detection and quantification of NF-κB subunits and post-translational modifications.
  • Luciferase Reporter Assays: To measure NF-κB transcriptional activity.