NF-κB, IκB, and IKK: Integral Components of Immune System Signaling

The NF-κB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) transcription factor plays crucial roles in the regulation of numerous biological processes including development of the immune system, inflammation, and innate and adaptive immune responses. Control over the immune cell functions of NF-κB results from signaling through one of two different routes: the canonical and noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathways. Present at the end of both pathways are the proteins NF-κB, IκB, and the IκB kinase (IKK). These proteins work together to deliver the myriad outcomes that influence context-dependent transcriptional control in immune cells. In the present chapter, we review the structural information available on NF-κB, IκB, and IKK, the critical terminal components of the NF-κB signaling, in relation to their physiological function.