Pro inflammatory cytokines activate the transcription factor NF kappa B by stimulating the activity of a protein kinase that phosphorylates Ikappa B, an inhibitor of NF kappa B, at sites that trigger its ubiquitination and degradation. A large, cytokine responsive Ikappa B kinase (IKK) complex has been purified and the genes encoding 2 of its subunits have been cloned. These subunits, IKK alpha and Ikk beta, are protein kinases whose function is needed for NF kappa B activation by pro inflam

This potassium channel is controlled by G proteins. Inward rectifier potassium channels are characterized by a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into the cell rather than out of it. Their voltage dependence is regulated by the concentration of extracellular potassium; as external potassium is raised, the voltage range of the channel opening shifts to more positive voltages. The inward rectification is mainly due to the blockage of outward current by internal magnesium. Can be blocked

Transferrins are iron binding transport proteins which can bind two Fe(3+) ions in association with the binding of an anion, usually bicarbonate. Lactotransferrin has antimicrobial activity which depends on the extracellular cation concentration. Lactoferroxins A, B and C have opioid antagonist activity. Lactoferroxin A shows preference for mu-receptors, while lactoferroxin B and C have somewhat higher degrees of preference for kappa-receptors than for mu-receptors. The lactotransferrin trans

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) are a family of 11 enzymes that are involved in the regulation of gene activation and silencing by regulating chromatin structure. HDAC11 is responsible for the deacetylation of lysine residues on the N-terminal part of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). Deacetylation of histones is associated with the condensation of chromatin to a compact structure (heterochromatin) in which the genes are silenced. Each member of the HDAC family exhibits a different, indivi

Histone H1b are basic nuclear proteins that are responsible for the nucleosome structure of the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Nucleosomes consist of approximately 146 bp of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer composed of pairs of each of the four core histones (H2A, H2B, H3, and H4). The chromatin fiber is further compacted through the interaction of a linker histone, H1, with the DNA between the nucleosomes to form higher order chromatin structures. This gene is intronless and encodes a

The proteasome is a multicatalytic proteinase complex with a highly ordered ring-shaped 20S core structure. The core structure is composed of 4 rings of 28 non-identical subunits; 2 rings are composed of 7 alpha subunits and 2 rings are composed of 7 beta subunits. Proteasomes are distributed throughout eukaryotic cells at a high concentration and cleave peptides in an ATP/ubiquitin-dependent process in a non-lysosomal pathway. An essential function of a modified proteasome, the immunoproteas