The protein nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-?B) is a transcription factor which is critical in cellular response to inflammation, apoptosis, and immune response and is involved in several signal transduction pathways.  Inhibitor of kappa B (I?B) molecules inactivate NF-?B, withholding the protein from the cytoplasm.  Phosphorylation of I?B degrades the inhibitor, allowing for NF-?B passage into the nucleus.  Here, the protein regulates the expression of numerous genes related to immune and inflammatory response.  While NF-?B plays an important role in the immune system, its untimely activation and the overexpression of certain inflammatory proteins can result in various diseases such as cancer and many neurological disorders.  Peptides mimicking the I?B binding site are being designed to study specific interactions that are key to the binding event between I?B and NF-?B.  The peptides with highest binding affinities for the protein will be screened as broad based inhibitors for the NF-?B signaling pathway.  Fluorescence binding studies and CD structural studies will be completed to characterize all designed peptides.  Progress toward the goals of this project will be presented.

Progress towards NF-?B inhibition by I?B peptide mimics

247th National Meeting (2014)

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