The DNA-dependent protein kinase participates in the activation of NF kappa B following DNA damage.

The NFkB transcription factor is activated by diverse stimuli, including Ionizing Radiation (IR) and the cytokine TNF alpha. The role of DNA-PK, a protein kinase involved in the response to DNA damage, in the activation of NF kappa B by IR and TNF alpha was examined. In M059K cells, which express DNA-PK, NF kappa B was activated by both TNF alpha and IR. In M059J cells, which do not express DNA-PK, IR did not activate NF kappa B, whereas TNF alpha induction of NF kappa B was still observed. In HeLa cells, wortmannin, an inhibitor of DNA-PK, blocked the induction of NF kappa B by IR but not by TNF alpha. DNA-PK also phosphorylated the NF kappa B inhibitory proteins IkB-alpha and IkB-beta in vitro, and deletion analysis demonstrated that DNA-PK phosphorylates 2 distinct regions of IkB-beta. These results indicate that DNA-PK participates in the activation of NF kappa B by IR but not by TNF alpha.