IκBα

IκBα ( n uclear f actor of k appa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B -cells i nhibitor a lpha; NFKBIA) is one member of a family of cellular proteins that function to inhibit the NF-κB transcription factor. IκBα inhibits NF-κB by masking the nuclear localization signals (NLS) of NF-κB proteins and keeping them sequestered in an inactive state in the cytoplasm. In addition, IκBα blocks the ability of NF-κB transcription factors to bind to DNA, which is required for NF-κB's proper functioning.

Disease linkage
The gene encoding the IκBα protein is mutated in some Hodgkin's lymphoma cells; such mutations inactivate the IκBα protein, thus causing NF-κB to be chronically active in the lymphoma tumor cells and this activity contributes to the malignant state of these tumor cells.

Interactions
IκBα has been shown to interact with:


 * BTRC,
 * C22orf25,
 * CHUK,
 * DYNLL1,
 * G3BP2,
 * Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1,
 * IKK2,
 * NFKB1,
 * P53,
 * RELA,
 * RPS6KA1,
 * SUMO4, and
 * Valosin-containing protein.