Transcription factor p65 (RELA)

NF-kappa-B is a pleiotropic transcription factor present in virtually all cell types and is the endpoint of a set of signal transduction events that are initiated by a vast range of stimuli related to a lot of biological processes such as inflammation, immunity, differentiation, cell development, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. NF-kappa-B is a homo- or heterodimeric complex formed by the Rel-like domain-containing proteins RELA/p65, RELB, NFKB1/p105, NFKB1/p50, REL and NFKB2/p52 and the heterodimeric p65-p50 complex appears to be most abundant one.

The dimers bind at kappa-B sites in the DNA of their target genes and the individual dimers have distinct preferences for different kappa-B sites which they can bind with distinguishable affinity and specificity. NF-kappa-B is controlled by various mechanisms of post-translational modification and subcellular compartmentalization in addition to by interactions with other cofactors or corepressors.