The multifunctional role of intrinsic disorder in NF-κB signaling

The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) transcription activation system involves disordered regions of both the NF-kappa B dimers and their inhibitors, the I kappa Bs. The system is well-studied both at the cellular and biophysical levels affording a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the conclusions from both types of experiments. Through a combination of both experiments and theory, we have discovered that the RelA/p50 heterodimer and its inhibitor I kappa B alpha operate under kinetic control. Intrinsically disordered parts of both proteins are directly involved in temporal control and their folding and unfolding determines the rates of various processes. In this review, we show how the dynamic state of the intrinsically disordered sequences define the rates of intracellular processes.

Automated summary

The kinetic control of NF-kappa B transcription activation system relies on the folding and unfolding of intrinsically disordered regions, which determines the rates of various cellular processes.