IκBα (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha) 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. References Further reading External links OMIM entries on Ectodermal Dysplasia, Anhidrotic, with T-cell Immunodeficiency Transcription factors