IKK-alpha proteins, nucleic acids and methods

Abstract

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to an IκB kinase, IKK-α, and related nucleic acids. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the disclosed IKK-α encoding nucleic acids or purified from human cells. The invention provides isolated IKK-α hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed IKK-α genes, IKK-α-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis, therapy and in the biopharmaceutical industry.

Description

INTRODUCTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The field of this invention is proteins involved in transcription factor activation.

[0004] 2. Background

[0005] Cytokines trigger changes in gene expression by modifying the activity of otherwise latent transcription factors (Hill and Treisman, 1995). Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a prominent example of how such an external stimulus is converted into an active transcription factor (Verma et al., 1995). The NF-κB system is composed of homo- and heterodimers of members of the Rel family of related transcription factors that control the expression of numerous immune and inflammatory response genes as well as important viral genes (Lenardo and Baltimore, 1989; Baeuerle and Henkel, 1994). The activity of NF-κB transcription factors is regulated by their subcellular localization (Verma et al., 1995). In most cell types, NF-κB is present as a heterodimer comprising of a 50 kDa and a 65 kDa subunit. This heterodimer is sequestered in the cytoplasm in association with IκBα a member of the IκB family of inhibitory proteins (Finco and Baldwin, 1995; Thanos and Maniatis, 1995; Verma et al., 1995). IκBα masks the nuclear localization signal of NF-κB and thereby prevents NF-κB nuclear translocation. Conversion of NF-κB into an active transcription factor that translocates into the nucleus and binds to cognate DNA sequences requires the phosphorylation and subsequent ubiquitin-dependent degradation of IκBα in the 26s proteasome. Signal-induced phosphorylation of IκBα occurs at serines 32 and 36. Mutation of one or both of these serines renders IκBα resistant to ubiquitination and proteolytic degradation (Chen et al., 1995).

[0006] The pleiotropic cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) are among the physiological inducers of IκB phosphorylation and subsequent NF-κB activation (Osborn et al., 1989; Beg et al., 1993). Although TNF and IL-1 initiate signaling cascades leading to NF-κB activation via distinct families of cell-surface receptors (Smith et al., 1994; Dinarello, 1996), both pathways utilize members of the TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) family of adaptor proteins as signal transducers (Rothe et al., 1995; Hsu et al., 1996; Cao et al., 1996b). TRAF proteins were originally found to associate directly with the cytoplasmic domains of several members of the TNF receptor family including the 75 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR2), CD40, CD30, and the lymphotoxin-β receptor (Rothe et al., 1994; Hu et al., 1994; Cheng et al., 1995; Mosialos et al., 1995; Song and Donner, 1995; Sato et al., 1995; Lee et al., 1996; Gedrich et al., 1996; Ansieau et al., 1996). In addition, TRAF proteins are recruited indirectly to the 55 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR1) by the adaptor protein TRADD (Hsu et al., 1996). Activation of NF-κB by TNF requires TRAF2 (Rothe et al., 1995; Hsu et al., 1996). TRAF5 has also been implicated in NF-κB activation by members of the TNF receptor family (Nakano et al., 1996). In contrast, TRAF6 participates in NF-κB activation by IL-I (Cao et al., 1996b). Upon IL-1 treatment, TRAF6 associates with IRAK, a serine-threonine kinase that binds to the IL-1 receptor complex (Cao et al., 1996a).

[0007] The NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) is a member of the MAP kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that was identified as a TRAF2-interacting protein (Malinin et al., 1997). NIK activates NF-κB when overexpressed, and kinase-inactive mutants of NIK comprising its TRAF2-interacting C-terminal domain (NIK(624-947)) or lacking two crucial lysine residues in its kinase domain (NIK(KK429-430AA)) behave as dominant-negative inhibitors that suppress TNF-, IL-1-, and TRAF2-induced NF-κB activation (Malinin et al., 1997). Recently, NIK was found to associate with additional members of the TRAF family, including TRAF5 and TRAF6. Catalytically inactive mutants of NIK also inhibited TRAF5- and TRAF6-induced NF-κB activation, thus providing a unifying concept for NIK as a common mediator in the NF-κB signaling cascades triggered by TNF and IL-1 downstream of TRAFs.

[0008] Here, we disclose a novel human kinase IκB Kinase, IKK-α, as a NIK-interacting protein. IKK-α has sequence similarity to the conceptual translate of a previously identified open reading frame (SEQ ID NO:5) postulated to encode a serine-threonine kinase of unknown function (‘Conserved Helix-loop-helix Ubiquitous Kinase’ or CHUK, Connelly and Marcu, 1995; Mock et al., 1995). Catalytically inactive mutants of TKK-α are shown to suppress NF-κB activation induced by TNF and IL-1 stimulation as well as by TRAF and NIK overexpression; transiently expressed IKK-α is shown to associate with the endogenous IκBα complex; and IKK-α is shown to phosphorylate IκBα on serines 32 and 36.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention provides methods and compositions relating to isolated IKK-α polypeptides, related nucleic acids, polypeptide domains thereof having IKK-α-specific structure and activity and modulators of IKK-α function, particularly IκB kinase activity. IKK-α polypeptides can regulate NFκB activation and hence provide important regulators of cell function. The polypeptides may be produced recombinantly from transformed host cells from the subject IKK-α polypeptide encoding nucleic acids or purified from mammalian cells. The invention provides isolated IKK-α hybridization probes and primers capable of specifically hybridizing with the disclosed IKK-α gene, IKK-α-specific binding agents such as specific antibodies, and methods of making and using the subject compositions in diagnosis (e.g. genetic hybridization screens for IKK-α transcripts), therapy (e.g. IKK-α kinase inhibitors to inhibit TNF signal transduction) and in the biopharmaceutical industry (e.g. as immunogens, reagents for isolating other transcriptional regulators, reagents for screening chemical libraries for lead pharmacological agents, etc.).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The nucleotide sequence of a natural cDNA encoding a human IKK-α polypeptide is shown as SEQ ID NO:3, and the full conceptual translate is shown as SEQ ID NO:4. The IKK-α polypeptides of the invention include incomplete translates of SEQ ID NO:3, particularly of SEQ ID NO:3, residues 1-638, which translates and deletion mutants of SEQ ID NO:4 have human IKK-α-specific amino acid sequence, binding specificity or function and comprise at least one of Cys30, Leu403, Glu543, Leu604, Thr679, Ser680, Pro684, Thr686 and Ser687. Preferred translates/deletion mutants comprise at least a 6, preferably at least a 12, more preferably at least an 18 residue Cys30, Leu403, Glu543, Leu604, Thr679, Ser680, Pro684, Thr686 or Ser687.-containing domain of SEQ ID NO:4, preferably including at least 8, more preferably at least 12, most preferably at least 20 contiguous residues which immediately flank said residue on one, preferably both sides, with said residue preferably residing within said contigous residues, see, e.g. Table 1A; which mutants provide hIKK-α specific epitopes and immunogens.

TABLE 1A
Exemplary IKK-α polypeptides having IKK-α binding specificity
αΔ1 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 1-30)
αΔ2 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 22-31)
αΔ3 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 599-608)
αΔ4 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 601-681)
αΔ5 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 604-679)
αΔ6 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 670-687)
αΔ7 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 679-687)
αΔ8 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 680-690)
αΔ9 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 684-695)
αΔ10 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 686-699)
αΔ11 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 312-345)
αΔ12 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 419-444)
αΔ13 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 495-503)
αΔ14 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 565-590)
αΔ15 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 610-627)
αΔ16 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 627-638)
αΔ17 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 715-740)
αΔ18 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 737-745)

[0011] In a particular embodiment, the invention provides IKK-αGlu543 polypeptides, IKK-αGlu543 polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids/polynucleotides, and IKK-αGlu543 polypeptide-based methods (below), which IKK-αGlu543 polypeptides comprise at least 8, preferably at least 10, more preferably at least 12, more preferably at least 16, most preferably at least 24 consecutive amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, which consecutive amino acid residues comprise the amino acid residue 543 (Glu) of SEQ ID NO:4. Exemplary IKK-αGlu543 polypeptides having IKK-αGlu543 binding specificity and immunologically distinguishable from IKK-αGly543 are shown in Table 1B.

TABLE 1B
Exemplary IKK-αGlu543 polypeptides having IKK-αGlu543 binding
specificity
αΔ19 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 540-548)
αΔ20 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-550)
αΔ21 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 536-543)
αΔ22 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 534-554)
αΔ23 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 533-543)
αΔ24 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-563)
αΔ25 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 542-549)
αΔ26 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 538-545)
αΔ27 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 541-547)
αΔ28 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 403-543)
αΔ29 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 403-604)
αΔ30 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 403-679)
αΔ31 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 403-680)
αΔ32 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 403-687)
αΔ33 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-604)
αΔ34 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-679)
αΔ35 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-684)
αΔ36 (SEQ ID NO: 4, residues 543-687)

[0012] The subject domains provide IKK-α domain specific activity or function, such as IKK-α-specific kinase or kinase inhibitory activity, NIK-binding or binding inhibitory activity, IκB-binding or binding inhibitory activity, NFκB activating or inhibitory activity or antibody binding. Preferred domains phosphorylate at least one and preferably both the serine 32 and 36 of IκB (Verma, I. M., et al. (1995)). As used herein, Ser32 and Ser36 of IκB refers collectively to the two serine residues which are part of the consensus sequence DSGL/IXSM/L (e.g. ser 32 and 36 in IκBα, ser 19 and 23 in IκBβ, and ser 157 and 161, or 18 and 22, depending on the usage of methionines, in IκBε, respectively.

[0013] IKK-α-specific activity or function may be determined by convenient in vitro, cell-based, or in vivo assays: e.g. in vitro binding assays, cell culture assays, in animals (e.g. gene therapy, transgenics, etc.), etc. Binding assays encompass any assay where the molecular interaction of an IKK-α polypeptide with a binding target is evaluated. The binding target may be a natural intracellular binding target such as an IKK-α substrate, a IKK-α regulating protein or other regulator that directly modulates IKK-α activity or its localization; or non-natural binding target such a specific immune protein such as an antibody, or an IKK-α specific agent such as those identified in screening assays such as described below. IKK-α-binding specificity may assayed by kinase activity or binding equilibrium constants (usually at least about 107 M−1, preferably at least about 108 M−1, more preferably at least about 109 M−1), by the ability of the subject polypeptide to function as negative mutants in IKK-α-expressing cells, to elicit IKK-α specific antibody in a heterologous host (e.g a rodent or rabbit), etc. In any event, the IKK-α binding specificity of the subject IKK-α polypeptides necessarily distinguishes the murine and human CHUK sequences of Connelly and Marcu (1995) as well as IKK-β (SEQ ID NO:4).

[0014] The claimed IKK-α polypeptides are isolated or pure: an “isolated” polypeptide is unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%, and more preferably at least about 5% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample and a pure polypeptide constitutes at least about 90%, and preferably at least about 99% by weight of the total polypeptide in a given sample. In a particular embodiments, IKK-α polypeptides are isolated from a MKP-1 precipitable complex, isolated from a IKK complex, and/or isolated from IKK-β. The IKK-α polypeptides and polypeptide domains may be synthesized, produced by recombinant technology, or purified from mammalian, preferably human cells. A wide variety of molecular and biochemical methods are available for biochemical synthesis, molecular expression and purification of the subject compositions, see e.g. Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook, et al Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Eds. Ausubel, et al., Greene Publ. Assoc., Wiley-Interscience, NY) or that are otherwise known in the art.

[0015] The invention provides binding agents specific to IKK polypeptides, preferably the claimed IKK-α polypeptides, including substrates, agonists, antagonists, natural intracellular binding targets, etc., methods of identifying and making such agents, and their use in diagnosis, therapy and pharmaceutical development. For example, specific binding agents are useful in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, especially where disease or disease prognosis is associated with improper utilization of a pathway involving the subject proteins, e.g. NF-κB activation. Novel IKK-specific binding agents include IKK-specific receptors, such as somatically recombined polypeptide receptors like specific antibodies or T-cell antigen receptors (see, e.g Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) and other natural intracellular binding agents identified with assays such as one-, two- and three-hybrid screens, non-natural intracellular binding agents identified in screens of chemical libraries such as described below, etc. Agents of particular interest modulate IKK function, e.g. IKK-dependent transcriptional activation. For example, a wide variety of inhibitors of IKK IκB kinase activity may be used to regulate signal transduction involving IκB. Exemplary IKK IκB kinase inhibitors include known classes of serine/threonine kinase (e.g. PKC) inhibitors such as competitive inhibitors of ATP and substrate binding, antibiotics, IKK-derived peptide inhibitors, etc., see Tables II and III. IKK specificity and activity are readily quantified in high throughput kinase assays using panels of protein kinases (see cited references and Examples).

[0016] Preferred inhibitors include natural compounds such as staurosporine (Omura S, et al. J Antibiot (Tokyo) July 1995;48(7):535-48), produced by a marine organism, and synthetic compounds such as PD 153035, which also potently inhibits the EGF receptor protein kinase (Fry D W et al. Science Aug. 19, 1994;265(5175):1093-5). Members of the tyrphostin family of synthetic protein kinase inhibitors are also useful; these include compounds which are pure ATP competitors, compounds which are pure substrate competitors, and compounds which are mixed competitors: compete with both ATP and substrate (Levitzki A and Gazit A, Science Mar. 24, 1995;267(5205):1782-8). Additional IKK inhibitors include peptide-based substrate competitors endogenously made by the mammalian cell, e.g. PKI (protein kinase inhibitor, Seasholtz A F et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA Feb. 28, 1995;92(5):1734-8), or proteins inhibiting cdc kinases (Correa-Bordes J and Nurse P, Cell 1995 Dec 15;83(6):1001-9). Additional small peptide based substrate competitive kinase inhibitors and allosteric inhibitors (inhibitory mechanisms independent of ATP or substrate competition) are readily generated by established methods (Hvalby O, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA May 24, 1994;91(11):4761-5; Barja P, et al., Cell Immunol January 1994;153(1):28-38; Villar-Palasi C, Biochim Biophys Acta Dec. 30, 1994;1224(3):384-8; Liu W Z, et al., Biochemistry Aug. 23, 1994;33(33):10120-6).

TABLE II
Selected Small Molecule IKK Kinase Inhibitors
	HA-1001	Iso-H712	A-318
	Chelerythrine2	PKC 19-31	HA100419,20
	Staurosporine3,4,5	H-713,3,14	K-252a16,5
	Calphostin C6,7,8,9	H-8915	KT582316
	K-252b10	KT572016	ML-921
	PKC 19-3611	cAMP-depPKinhib17	KT592622

[0017] Citations

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TABLE III
Selected Peptidyl IKK Kinase Inhibitors
hIκBα, residues 24-39, 32Ala    hIKK-α, Δ5-203
hIκBα, residues 29-47, 36Ala    hIKK-α, Δ1-178
hIκBα, residues 26-46, 32/36Ala hIKK-α, Δ368-756
hIκBβ, residues 25-38, 32Ala    hIKK-α, Δ460-748
hIκBβ, residues 30-41, 36Ala    hIKK-α, Δ1-289
hIκBβ, residues 26-46, 32/36Ala hIKK-α, Δ12-219
hIκBε, residues 24-40, 32Ala    hIKK-α, Δ307-745
hIκBε, residues 31-50, 36Ala    hIKK-α, Δ319-644
hIκBε, residues 27-44, 32/36Ala

[0040] Accordingly, the invention provides methods for modulating signal transduction involving IκB in a cell comprising the step of modulating IKK kinase activity, e.g. by contacting the cell with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor. The cell may reside in culture or in situ, i.e. within the natural host. Preferred inhibitors are orally active in mammalian hosts. For diagnostic uses, the inhibitors or other IKK binding agents are frequently labeled, such as with fluorescent, radioactive, chemiluminescent, or other easily detectable molecules, either conjugated directly to the binding agent or conjugated to a probe specific for the binding agent.

[0041] The amino acid sequences of the disclosed IKK-α polypeptides are used to back-translate IKK-α polypeptide-encoding nucleic acids optimized for selected expression systems (Holler et al. (1993) Gene 136, 323-328; Martin et al. (1995) Gene 154, 150-166) or used to generate degenerate oligonucleotide primers and probes for use in the isolation of natural IKK-α-encoding nucleic acid sequences (“GCG” software, Genetics Computer Group, Inc, Madison Wis.). IKK-α-encoding nucleic acids used in IKK-α-expression vectors and incorporated into recombinant host cells, e.g. for expression and screening, transgenic animals, e.g. for functional studies such as the efficacy of candidate drugs for disease associated with IKK-α-modulated cell function, etc.

[0042] The invention also provides nucleic acid hybridization probes and replication/amplification primers having a IKK-α cDNA specific sequence comprising at least 12, preferably at least 24, more preferably at least 36 and most preferably at least contiguous 96 bases of a strand of SEQ ID NO:3, particularly of SEQ ID NO:2, nucleotides 1-1913, and preferably including at least one of bases 1-92, 1811, 1812, 1992, 1995, 2034, 2035, 2039, 2040, 2050, 2055 and 2060, and sufficient to specifically hybridize with a second nucleic acid comprising the complementary strand of SEQ ID NO:3 in the presence of a third nucleic acid comprising (SEQ ID NO:5). Demonstrating specific hybridization generally requires stringent conditions, for example, hybridizing in a buffer comprising 30% formamide in 5×SSPE (0.18 M NaCl, 0.01 M NaPO4, pH 7.7, 0.001 M EDTA) buffer at a temperature of 42° C. and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42° C. with 0.2×SSPE; preferably hybridizing in a buffer comprising 50% forynamide in 5×SSPE buffer at a temperature of 42° C. and remaining bound when subject to washing at 42° C. with 0.2×SSPE buffer at 42° C. IKK-α nucleic acids can also be distinguished using alignment algorithms, such as BLASTX (Altschul et al. (1990) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool, J Mol Biol 215, 403-410).

[0043] In a particular embodiment, the invention provides IKK-αA1628 polynucleotides, comprising at least 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, 148, 356 or 728 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, which consecutive polynucleotides comprise the polynucleotide 1628 (A) of SEQ ID NO:3. Exemplary IKK-αA1628 polynucleotides and allele specific oligonucleotide probes having IKK-αGlu543 binding specificity and distinguishable by hybridization assays from IKK-αG1628 are shown in Table IV.

TABLE IV
Exemplary IKK-αA1628 polynucleotides having IKK-αA1628 binding
specificity
αΔ1 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1611-1628)
αΔ2 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1628-1644)
αΔ3 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1620-1648)
αΔ4 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1612-1648)
αΔ5 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1608-1668)
αΔ6 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1580-1650)
αΔ7 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1596-1636)
αΔ8 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1602-1687)
αΔ9 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1614-1639)
αΔ10 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1621-1753)
αΔ11 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1502-1899)
αΔ12 (SEQ ID NO: 3, nucleotides 1020-1790)

[0044] The subject nucleic acids are of synthetic/non-natural sequences and/or are isolated, i.e. unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%, preferably at least about 5% by weight of total nucleic acid present in a given fraction, and usually recombinant, meaning they comprise a non-natural sequence or a natural sequence joined to nucleotide(s) other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. Recombinant nucleic acids comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or requisite fragments thereof, contain such sequence or fragment at a terminus, immediately flanked by (i.e. contiguous with) a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome, or flanked by a native flanking region fewer than 10 kb, preferably fewer than 2 kb, which is at a terminus or is immediately flanked by a sequence other than that which it is joined to on a natural chromosome. While the nucleic acids are usually RNA or DNA, it is often advantageous to use nucleic acids comprising other bases or nucleotide analogs to provide modified stability, etc.

[0045] The subject nucleic acids find a wide variety of applications including use as translatable transcripts, hybridization probes, PCR primers, diagnostic nucleic acids, etc.; use in detecting the presence of IKK-α genes and gene transcripts and in detecting or amplifying nucleic acids encoding additional IKK-α homologs and structural analogs. In diagnosis, IKK-α hybridization probes find use in identifying wild-type and mutant IKK-α alleles in clinical and laboratory samples. Mutant alleles are used to generate allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) probes for high-throughput clinical diagnoses. In therapy, therapeutic IKK-α nucleic acids are used to modulate cellular expression or intracellular concentration or availability of active IKK-α.

[0046] The invention provides efficient methods of identifying agents, compounds or lead compounds for agents active at the level of a IKK modulatable cellular function. Generally, these screening methods involve assaying for compounds which modulate IKK interaction with a natural IKK binding target, in particular, IKK phosphorylation of IκB-derived substrates, particularly IκB and NIK substrates. A wide variety of assays for binding agents are provided including labeled in vitro protein-protein binding assays, immunoassays, cell based assays, etc. The methods are amenable to automated, cost-effective high throughput screening of chemical libraries for lead compounds. Identified reagents find use in the pharmaceutical industries for animal and human trials; for example, the reagents may be derivatized and rescreened in in vitro and in vivo assays to optimize activity and minimize toxicity for pharmaceutical development.

[0047] In vitro binding assays employ a mixture of components including an IKK polypeptide, which may be part of a fusion product with another peptide or polypeptide, e.g. a tag for detection or anchoring, etc. The assay mixtures comprise a natural intracellular IKK binding target. In a particular embodiment, the binding target is a substrate comprising IκB serines 32 and/or 36. Such substrates comprise a IκBα, β or ε peptide including the serine 32 and/or 36 residue and at least 5, preferably at least 10, and more preferably at least 20 naturally occurring immediately flanking residues on each side (e.g. for serine 36 peptides, residues 26-46, 22-42, or 12-32 or 151-171 for IκBα, β or ε-derived substrates, respectively). While native full-length binding targets may be used, it is frequently preferred to use portions (e.g. peptides) thereof so long as the portion provides binding affinity and avidity to the subject IKK polypeptide conveniently measurable in the assay. The assay mixture also comprises a candidate pharmacological agent. Candidate agents encompass numerous chemical classes, though typically they are organic compounds; preferably small organic compounds and are obtained from a wide variety of sources including libraries of synthetic or natural compounds. A variety of other reagents may also be included in the mixture. These include reagents like ATP or ATP analogs (for kinase assays), salts, buffers, neutral proteins, e.g. albumin, detergents, protease inhibitors, nuclease inhibitors, antimicrobial agents, etc. may be used.

[0048] The resultant mixture is incubated under conditions whereby, but for the presence of the candidate pharmacological agent, the IKK polypeptide specifically binds the cellular binding target, portion or analog with a reference binding affinity. The mixture components can be added in any order that provides for the requisite bindings and incubations may be performed at any temperature which facilitates optimal binding. Incubation periods are likewise selected for optimal binding but also minimized to facilitate rapid, high-throughput screening.

[0049] After incubation, the agent-biased binding between the IKK polypeptide and one or more binding targets is detected by any convenient way. For IKK kinase assays, ‘binding’ is generally detected by a change in the phosphorylation of a IKK-α substrate. In this embodiment, kinase activity may quantified by the transfer to the substrate of a labeled phosphate, where the label may provide for direct detection as radioactivity, luminescence, optical or electron density, etc. or indirect detection such as an epitope tag, etc. A variety of methods may be used to detect the label depending on the nature of the label and other assay components, e.g. through optical or electron density, radiative emissions, nonradiative energy transfers, etc. or indirectly detected with antibody conjugates, etc.

[0050] A difference in the binding affinity of the IKK polypeptide to the target in the absence of the agent as compared with the binding affinity in the presence of the agent indicates that the agent modulates the binding of the IKK polypeptide to the IKK binding target. Analogously, in the cell-based assay also described below, a difference in IKK-α-dependent transcriptional activation in the presence and absence of an agent indicates the agent modulates IKK function. A difference, as used herein, is statistically significant and preferably represents at least a 50%, more preferably at least a 90% difference.

[0051] The following experimental section and examples are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

Experimental

[0052] Identification of IKK-α

[0053] To investigate the mechanism of NIK-mediated NF-κB activation, we identified proteins that associate directly with NIK by yeast two-hybrid protein interaction cloning (Fields and Song, 1989). An expression vector was generated that encodes NIK fused to the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor GAL4. This vector was used as bait in a two-hybrid screen of a human B cell cDNA library. From approximately six million transformants, eight positive clones were obtained, as determined by activation of his and lacZ reporter genes. Of these clones, three encoded a member of the TRAF family, TRAF3 (Hu et al., 1994; Cheng et al., 1995; Mosialos et al., 1995; Sato et al., 1995) and one encoded a novel protein we call IKK-α. Retransformation into yeast cells verified the interaction between NIK and IKK-α. A full-length human IKK-α clone was isolated by screening a Jurkat cDNA library with a probe generated from the 5′-end of the IKK-α two-hybrid clone. IKK-α comprises an N-terminal serine-threonine kinase catalytic domain, a C-terminal helix-loop-helix domain and a leucine zipper-like amphipathic α-helix juxtaposed in between the helix-loop-helix and kinase domain.

[0054] Interaction of IKK-α and NIK in Human Cells

[0055] The interaction of IKK-α with NIK was confirmed in mammalian cell coimmunoprecipitation assays. Human IKK-α containing an N-terminal Flag epitope tag was transiently coexpressed in 293 human embryonic kidney cells with Myc epitope-tagged NIK or HA epitope-tagged TRAF proteins. Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated using a monoclonal antibody against the Flag epitope, and coprecipitating NIK or TRAF proteins were detected by immunoblot analysis with an anti-Myc or anti-HA monoclonal antibodies. In this assay, IKK-α was able to coprecipitate NIK confirming the interaction between both proteins as detected for IKK-α by yeast two-hybrid analysis. Also, a deletion mutant IKK-α protein lacking most of the N-terminal kinase domain (IKK-α(307-745)) was able to associate with NIK, indicating that the α-helical C-terminal half of IKK-α mediates the interaction with NIK. In contrast to NIK, IKK-α failed to associate with either TRAF2 or TRAF3. However, when NIK was coexpressed with IKK-α and TRAF2, strong coprecipitation of TRAF2 with IKK-α. was detected, indicating the formation of a ternary complex between IKK-α, NIK and TRAF2.

[0056] Effect of IKK-α and IKK-α Mutants on NF-κB Activation

[0057] To investigate a possible role for IKK-α in NF-κB activation, we examined if transient overexpression of IKK-α might activate an NF-κB-dependent reporter gene. An E-selectin-luciferase reporter construct (Schindler and Baichwal, 1994) and a IKK-α expression vector were cotransfected into HeLa cells. IKK-α expression activated the reporter gene in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal induction of luciferase activity of about 6 to 7-fold compared to vector control. Similar results were obtained in 293 cells, where IKK-α overexpression induced reporter gene activity approximately 4-fold. TNF treatment did not stimulate the weak NF-κB-inducing activity of overexpressed IKK-α in reporter gene assays. Thus, IKK-α induces NF-κB activation when overexpressed.

[0058] We next determined the effect of overexpression of kinase-inactive IKK-α(307-745) that still associates with NIK on signal-induced NF-κB activation in reporter gene assays in 293 cells. Overexpression of IKK-α(307-745) blocked TNF- and IL-1-induced reporter gene activation similar to overexpression of NIK(624-947). IKK-α(307-745) was also found to inhibited NF-κB-dependent reporter gene activity elicited by overexpression of TRAF2, TRAF6 and NIK. Taken together these results demonstrate that a catalytically inactive IKK-α mutant is a dominant-negative inhibitor of TNF-, IL-1, TRAF- and NIK-induced NF-κB activation. This indicates that IKK-α functions as a common mediator of NF-κB activation by TNF and IL-1 downstream of NIK.

PARENTHETICAL REFERENCES

[0059] Ansieau, S., et al. (1996). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 14053-14058.

[0060] Baeuerle, P. A., and Henkel, T. (1994). Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12, 141-179.

[0061] Beg, A. A., et al. (1993). Mol. Cell. Biol. 13, 3301-3310.

[0062] Cao, Z., Henzel, W. J., and Gao, X. (1996a). Science 271, 1128-1131.

[0063] Cao, Z., et al. (1996b). Nature 383, 443-446.

[0064] Chen, Z., et al. (1995). Genes Dev. 9, 1586-1597.

[0065] Cheng, G., et al. (1995). Science 267, 1494-1498.

[0066] Connelly, M. A., and Marcu, K. B. (1995). Cell. Mol. Biol. Res. 41, 537-549.

[0067] Dinarello, C. A. (1996). Biologic basis for interleukin-I in disease. Blood 87, 2095-2147.

[0068] Fields, S., and Song, O. -k. (1989). Nature 340, 245-246.

[0069] Finco, T. S., and Baldwin, A. S. (1995). Immunity 3, 263-272.

[0070] Gedrich, R. W., et al. (1996). J. Biol. Chem. 271, 12852-12858.

[0071] Hill, C. S., and Treisman, R. (1995). Cell 80, 199-211.

[0072] Hsu, H., Shu, H. -B., Pan, M. -P., and Goeddel, D. V. (1996). Cell 84, 299-308.

[0073] Hu, H. M., et al. (1994). J. Biol. Chem. 269, 30069-30072.

[0074] Lee, S. Y., et al. (1996). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 9699-9703.

[0075] Lenardo, M., and Baltimore, D. (1989). Cell 58, 227-229.

[0076] Malinin, N. L., et al. (1997). Nature 385, 540-544.

[0077] Mock et al. (1995). Genomics 27, 348-351.

[0078] Mosialos, G., et al. (1995). Cell 80, 389-399.

[0079] Nakano, H., et al. (1996). J. Biol. Chem. 271, 14661-14664.

[0080] Osbom, L., Kunkel, S., and Nabel, G. J. (1989). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. Pat. No. 86,2336-2340.

[0081] Rothe, M., Sarma, V., Dixit, V. M., and Goeddel, D. V. (1995). Science 269, 1424-1427.

[0082] Rothe, M., Wong, S. C., Henzel, W. J., and Goeddel, D. V. (1994). Cell 78, 681-692.

[0083] Sato, T., Irie, S., and Reed, J. C. (1995). FEBS Lett. 358, 113-118.

[0084] Schindler, U., and Baichwal, V. R. (1994). Mol. Cell. Biol. 14, 5820-5831.

[0085] Smith, C. A., Farrah, T., and Goodwin, R. G. (1994). Cell 76, 959-962.

[0086] Song, H. Y., and Donner, D. B. (1995). Biochem. J. 809, 825-829.

[0087] Thanos, D., and Maniatis, T. (1995). Cell 80, 529-532.

[0088] Verma, I. M., et al. (1995). Genes Dev. 9, 2723-2735.

EXAMPLES

[0089] 1. Protocol for at IKK-α-IκBα phosphorylation assay.

[0090] A. Reagents:

[0091] Neutralite Avidin: 20 μg/ml in PBS.

[0092] kinase: 10−8-10−5 M IKK-α (SEQ ID NO:4) at 20 μg/ml in PBS.

[0093] substrate: 10−7-10−4 M biotinylated substrate (21 residue peptide consisting of residues 26-46 of human IκBα) at 40 μg/ml in PBS.

[0094] Blocking buffer: 5% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20 in PBS; 1 hour at room temperature.

[0095] Assay Buffer: 100 mM KCl, 10 mM MgCl2, 1 mM MnCl2, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 0.25 mM EDTA, 1% glycerol, 0.5% NP-40, 50 mM BME, 1 mg/ml BSA, cocktail of protease inhibitors.

[0096] [32P]γ-ATP 10× stock: 2×10−5 M cold ATP with 100 μCi [32P]γ-ATP. Place in the 4° C. microfridge during screening.

[0097] Protease inhibitor cocktail (1000×): 10 mg Trypsin Inhibitor (BMB #109894), 10 mg Aprotinin (BMB #236624), 25 mg Benzamidine (Sigma #B-6506), 25 mg Leupeptin (BMB #1017128), 10 mg APMSF (BMB #917575), and 2 mM NaVo3(Sigma #S-6508) in 10 ml of PBS.

[0098] B. Preparation of Assay Plates:

[0099] Coat with 120 μl of stock N Avidin per well overnight at 4° C.

[0100] Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

[0101] Block with 150 μL of blocking buffer.

[0102] Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

[0103] C. Assay:

[0104] Add 40 μl assay buffer/well.

[0105] Add 40 μl biotinylated substrate (2-200 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer)

[0106] Add 40 μl kinase (0.1-10 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer)

[0107] Add 10 μl compound or extract.

[0108] Add 10 μl [32P]γ-ATP 10× stock.

[0109] Shake at 25° C. for 15 minutes.

[0110] Incubate additional 45 minutes at 25° C.

[0111] Stop the reaction by washing 4 times with 200 μl PBS.

[0112] Add 150 μl scintillation cocktail.

[0113] Count in Topcount.

[0114] D. Controls for All Assays (Located on Each Plate):

[0115] a. Non-specific binding

[0116] b. cold ATP at 80% inhibition.

[0117] 2. Protocol for High Throughput IKK-α-NIK Binding Assay.

[0118] A. Reagents:

[0119] Neutralite Avidin: 20 μg/ml in PBS.

[0120] Blocking buffer: 5% BSA, 0.5% Tween 20 in PBS; 1 hour at room temperature.

[0121] Assay Buffer: 100 mM KCl, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.6, 1 mM MgCl2, 1% glycerol, 0.5% NP-40, 50 mM b-mercaptoethanol, 1 mg/ml BSA, cocktail of protease inhibitors.

[0122] 33 P IKK-α polypeptide 10× stock: 10−8-10−6 M “cold” IKK-α supplemented with 200,000-250,000 cpm of labeled IKK-α (Beckman counter). Place in the 4° C. microfridge during screening.

[0123] Protease inhibitor cocktail (1000×): 10 mg Trypsin Inhibitor (BMB #109894), 10 mg Aprotinin (BMB #236624), 25 mg Benzamidine (Sigma #B-6506), 25 mg Leupeptin (BMB #1017128), 10 mg APMSF (BMB #917575), and 2 mM NaVO3(Sigma #S-6508) in 10 ml of PBS.

[0124] NIK: 10−7-10−5 M biotinylated NIK in PBS.

[0125] B. Preparation of Assay Plates:

[0126] Coat with 120 μl of stock N-Avidin per well overnight at 4 C.

[0127] Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

[0128] Block with 150 μL of blocking buffer.

[0129] Wash 2 times with 200 μl PBS.

[0130] C. Assay:

[0131] Add 40 μl assay buffer/well.

[0132] Add 10 μl compound or extract.

[0133] Add 10 μl 33P-IKK-α (20-25,000 cpm/0.1-10 pmoles/well=10−9-10−7 M final conc).

[0134] Shake at 25° C. for 15 minutes.

[0135] Incubate additional 45 minutes at 25° C.

[0136] Add 40 μM biotinylated NIK (0.1-10 pmoles/40 ul in assay buffer)

[0137] Incubate 1 hour at room temperature.

[0138] Stop the reaction by washing 4 times with 200 μM PBS.

[0139] Add 150 μM scintillation cocktail.

[0140] Count in Topcount.

[0141] D. Controls for All Assays (Located on Each Plate):

[0142] a. Non-specific binding

[0143] b. Soluble (non-biotinylated NIK) at 80% inhibition.

[0144] All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

#               SEQUENCE
#LISTING
(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:
(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 5
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 2268 base
#pairs
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: double
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:
#1:
ATGAGCTGGT CACCTTCCCT GACAACGCAG ACATGTGGGG CCTGGGAAAT GA
#AAGAGCGC     60
CTTGGGACAG GGGGATTTGG AAATGTCATC CGATGGCACA ATCAGGAAAC AG
#GTGAGCAG    120
ATTGCCATCA AGCAGTGCCG GCAGGAGCTC AGCCCCCGGA ACCGAGAGCG GT
#GGTGCCTG    180
GAGATCCAGA TCATGAGAAG GCTGACCCAC CCCAATGTGG TGGCTGCCCG AG
#ATGTCCCT    240
GAGGGGATGC AGAACTTGGC GCCCAATGAC CTGCCCCTGC TGGCCATGGA GT
#ACTGCCAA    300
GGAGGAGATC TCCGGAAGTA CCTGAACCAG TTTGAGAACT GCTGTGGTCT GC
#GGGAAGGT    360
GCCATCCTCA CCTTGCTGAG TGACATTGCC TCTGCGCTTA GATACCTTCA TG
#AAAACAGA    420
ATCATCCATC GGGATCTAAA GCCAGAAAAC ATCGTCCTGC AGCAAGGAGA AC
#AGAGGTTA    480
ATACACAAAA TTATTGACCT AGGATATGCC AAGGAGCTGG ATCAGGGCAG TC
#TTTGCACA    540
TCATTCGTGG GGACCCTGCA GTACCTGGCC CCAGAGCTAC TGGAGCAGCA GA
#AGTACACA    600
GTGACCGTCG ACTACTGGAG CTTCGGCACC CTGGCCTTTG AGTGCATCAC GG
#GCTTCCGG    660
CCCTTCCTCC CCAACTGGCA GCCCGTGCAG TGGCATTCAA AAGTGCGGCA GA
#AGAGTGAG    720
GTGGACATTG TTGTTAGCGA AGACTTGAAT GGAACGGTGA AGTTTTCAAG CT
#CTTTACCC    780
TACCCCAATA ATCTTAACAG TGTCCTGGCT GAGCGACTGG AGAAGTGGCT GC
#AACTGATG    840
CTGATGTGGC ACCCCCGACA GAGGGGCACG GATCCCACGT ATGGGCCCAA TG
#GCTGCTTC    900
AAGGCCCTGG ATGACATCTT AAACTTAAAG CTGGTTCATA TCTTGAACAT GG
#TCACGGGC    960
ACCATCCACA CCTACCCTGT GACAGAGGAT GAGAGTCTGC AGAGCTTGAA GG
#CCAGAATC   1020
CAACAGGACA CGGGCATCCC AGAGGAGGAC CAGGAGCTGC TGCAGGAAGC GG
#GCCTGGCG   1080
TTGATCCCCG ATAAGCCTGC CACTCAGTGT ATTTCAGACG GCAAGTTAAA TG
#AGGGCCAC   1140
ACATTGGACA TGGATCTTGT TTTTCTCTTT GACAACAGTA AAATCACCTA TG
#AGACTCAG   1200
ATCTCCCCAC GGCCCCAACC TGAAAGTGTC AGCTGTATCC TTCAAGAGCC CA
#AGAGGAAT   1260
CTCGCCTTCT TCCAGCTGAG GAAGGTGTGG GGCCAGGTCT GGCACAGCAT CC
#AGACCCTG   1320
AAGGAAGATT GCAACCGGCT GCAGCAGGGA CAGCGAGCCG CCATGATGAA TC
#TCCTCCGA   1380
AACAACAGCT GCCTCTCCAA AATGAAGAAT TCCATGGCTT CCATGTCTCA GC
#AGCTCAAG   1440
GCCAAGTTGG ATTTCTTCAA AACCAGCATC CAGATTGACC TGGAGAAGTA CA
#GCGAGCAA   1500
ACCGAGTTTG GGATCACATC AGATAAACTG CTGCTGGCCT GGAGGGAAAT GG
#AGCAGGCT   1560
GTGGAGCTCT GTGGGCGGGA GAACGAAGTG AAACTCCTGG TAGAACGGAT GA
#TGGCTCTG   1620
CAGACCGACA TTGTGGACTT ACAGAGGAGC CCCATGGGCC GGAAGCAGGG GG
#GAACGCTG   1680
GACGACCTAG AGGAGCAAGC AAGGGAGCTG TACAGGAGAC TAAGGGAAAA AC
#CTCGAGAC   1740
CAGCGAACTG AGGGTGACAG TCAGGAAATG GTACGGCTGC TGCTTCAGGC AA
#TTCAGAGC   1800
TTCGAGAAGA AAGTGCGAGT GATCTATACG CAGCTCAGTA AAACTGTGGT TT
#GCAAGCAG   1860
AAGGCGCTGG AACTGTTGCC CAAGGTGGAA GAGGTGGTGA GCTTAATGAA TG
#AGGATGAG   1920
AAGACTGTTG TCCGGCTGCA GGAGAAGCGG CAGAAGGAGC TCTGGAATCT CC
#TGAAGATT   1980
GCTTGTAGCA AGGTCCGTGG TCCTGTCAGT GGAAGCCCGG ATAGCATGAA TG
#CCTCTCGA   2040
CTTAGCCAGC CTGGGCAGCT GATGTCTCAG CCCTCCACGG CCTCCAACAG CT
#TACCTGAG   2100
CCAGCCAAGA AGAGTGAAGA ACTGGTGGCT GAAGCACATA ACCTCTGCAC CC
#TGCTAGAA   2160
AATGCCATAC AGGACACTGT GAGGGAACAA GACCAGAGTT TCACGGCCCT AG
#ACTGGAGC   2220
TGGTTACAGA CGGAAGAAGA AGAGCACAGC TGCCTGGAGC AGGCCTCA
#              2268
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 756 amino
#acids
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:
#2:
Met Ser Trp Ser Pro Ser Leu Thr Thr Gln Th
#r Cys Gly Ala Trp Glu
1               5
#                10
#                15
Met Lys Glu Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Phe Gl
#y Asn Val Ile Arg Trp
20
#            25
#            30
His Asn Gln Glu Thr Gly Glu Gln Ile Ala Il
#e Lys Gln Cys Arg Gln
35
#        40
#        45
Glu Leu Ser Pro Arg Asn Arg Glu Arg Trp Cy
#s Leu Glu Ile Gln Ile
50
#    55
#    60
Met Arg Arg Leu Thr His Pro Asn Val Val Al
#a Ala Arg Asp Val Pro
65
#70
#75
#80
Glu Gly Met Gln Asn Leu Ala Pro Asn Asp Le
#u Pro Leu Leu Ala Met
85
#                90
#                95
Glu Tyr Cys Gln Gly Gly Asp Leu Arg Lys Ty
#r Leu Asn Gln Phe Glu
100
#           105
#           110
Asn Cys Cys Gly Leu Arg Glu Gly Ala Ile Le
#u Thr Leu Leu Ser Asp
115
#       120
#       125
Ile Ala Ser Ala Leu Arg Tyr Leu His Glu As
#n Arg Ile Ile His Arg
130
#   135
#   140
Asp Leu Lys Pro Glu Asn Ile Val Leu Gln Gl
#n Gly Glu Gln Arg Leu
145                 1
#50                 1
#55                 1
#60
Ile His Lys Ile Ile Asp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Ly
#s Glu Leu Asp Gln Gly
165
#               170
#               175
Ser Leu Cys Thr Ser Phe Val Gly Thr Leu Gl
#n Tyr Leu Ala Pro Glu
180
#           185
#           190
Leu Leu Glu Gln Gln Lys Tyr Thr Val Thr Va
#l Asp Tyr Trp Ser Phe
195
#       200
#       205
Gly Thr Leu Ala Phe Glu Cys Ile Thr Gly Ph
#e Arg Pro Phe Leu Pro
210
#   215
#   220
Asn Trp Gln Pro Val Gln Trp His Ser Lys Va
#l Arg Gln Lys Ser Glu
225                 2
#30                 2
#35                 2
#40
Val Asp Ile Val Val Ser Glu Asp Leu Asn Gl
#y Thr Val Lys Phe Ser
245
#               250
#               255
Ser Ser Leu Pro Tyr Pro Asn Asn Leu Asn Se
#r Val Leu Ala Glu Arg
260
#           265
#           270
Leu Glu Lys Trp Leu Gln Leu Met Leu Met Tr
#p His Pro Arg Gln Arg
275
#       280
#       285
Gly Thr Asp Pro Thr Tyr Gly Pro Asn Gly Cy
#s Phe Lys Ala Leu Asp
290
#   295
#   300
Asp Ile Leu Asn Leu Lys Leu Val His Ile Le
#u Asn Met Val Thr Gly
305                 3
#10                 3
#15                 3
#20
Thr Ile His Thr Tyr Pro Val Thr Glu Asp Gl
#u Ser Leu Gln Ser Leu
325
#               330
#               335
Lys Ala Arg Ile Gln Gln Asp Thr Gly Ile Pr
#o Glu Glu Asp Gln Glu
340
#           345
#           350
Leu Leu Gln Glu Ala Gly Leu Ala Leu Ile Pr
#o Asp Lys Pro Ala Thr
355
#       360
#       365
Gln Cys Ile Ser Asp Gly Lys Leu Asn Glu Gl
#y His Thr Leu Asp Met
370
#   375
#   380
Asp Leu Val Phe Leu Phe Asp Asn Ser Lys Il
#e Thr Tyr Glu Thr Gln
385                 3
#90                 3
#95                 4
#00
Ile Ser Pro Arg Pro Gln Pro Glu Ser Val Se
#r Cys Ile Leu Gln Glu
405
#               410
#               415
Pro Lys Arg Asn Leu Ala Phe Phe Gln Leu Ar
#g Lys Val Trp Gly Gln
420
#           425
#           430
Val Trp His Ser Ile Gln Thr Leu Lys Glu As
#p Cys Asn Arg Leu Gln
435
#       440
#       445
Gln Gly Gln Arg Ala Ala Met Met Asn Leu Le
#u Arg Asn Asn Ser Cys
450
#   455
#   460
Leu Ser Lys Met Lys Asn Ser Met Ala Ser Me
#t Ser Gln Gln Leu Lys
465                 4
#70                 4
#75                 4
#80
Ala Lys Leu Asp Phe Phe Lys Thr Ser Ile Gl
#n Ile Asp Leu Glu Lys
485
#               490
#               495
Tyr Ser Glu Gln Thr Glu Phe Gly Ile Thr Se
#r Asp Lys Leu Leu Leu
500
#           505
#           510
Ala Trp Arg Glu Met Glu Gln Ala Val Glu Le
#u Cys Gly Arg Glu Asn
515
#       520
#       525
Glu Val Lys Leu Leu Val Glu Arg Met Met Al
#a Leu Gln Thr Asp Ile
530
#   535
#   540
Val Asp Leu Gln Arg Ser Pro Met Gly Arg Ly
#s Gln Gly Gly Thr Leu
545                 5
#50                 5
#55                 5
#60
Asp Asp Leu Glu Glu Gln Ala Arg Glu Leu Ty
#r Arg Arg Leu Arg Glu
565
#               570
#               575
Lys Pro Arg Asp Gln Arg Thr Glu Gly Asp Se
#r Gln Glu Met Val Arg
580
#           585
#           590
Leu Leu Leu Gln Ala Ile Gln Ser Phe Glu Ly
#s Lys Val Arg Val Ile
595
#       600
#       605
Tyr Thr Gln Leu Ser Lys Thr Val Val Cys Ly
#s Gln Lys Ala Leu Glu
610
#   615
#   620
Leu Leu Pro Lys Val Glu Glu Val Val Ser Le
#u Met Asn Glu Asp Glu
625                 6
#30                 6
#35                 6
#40
Lys Thr Val Val Arg Leu Gln Glu Lys Arg Gl
#n Lys Glu Leu Trp Asn
645
#               650
#               655
Leu Leu Lys Ile Ala Cys Ser Lys Val Arg Gl
#y Pro Val Ser Gly Ser
660
#           665
#           670
Pro Asp Ser Met Asn Ala Ser Arg Leu Ser Gl
#n Pro Gly Gln Leu Met
675
#       680
#       685
Ser Gln Pro Ser Thr Ala Ser Asn Ser Leu Pr
#o Glu Pro Ala Lys Lys
690
#   695
#   700
Ser Glu Glu Leu Val Ala Glu Ala His Asn Le
#u Cys Thr Leu Leu Glu
705                 7
#10                 7
#15                 7
#20
Asn Ala Ile Gln Asp Thr Val Arg Glu Gln As
#p Gln Ser Phe Thr Ala
725
#               730
#               735
Leu Asp Trp Ser Trp Leu Gln Thr Glu Glu Gl
#u Glu His Ser Cys Leu
740
#           745
#           750
Glu Gln Ala Ser
755
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 2238 base
#pairs
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: double
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:
#3:
ATGGAGCGGC CCCCGGGGCT GCGGCCGGGC GCGGGCGGGC CCTGGGAGAT GC
#GGGAGCGG     60
CTGGGCACCG GCGGCTTCGG GAACGTCTGT CTGTACCAGC ATCGGGAACT TG
#ATCTCAAA    120
ATAGCAATTA AGTCTTGTCG CCTAGAGCTA AGTACCAAAA ACAGAGAACG AT
#GGTGCCAT    180
GAAATCCAGA TTATGAAGAA GTTGAACCAT GCCAATGTTG TAAAGGCCTG TG
#ATGTTCCT    240
GAAGAATTGA ATATTTTGAT TCATGATGTG CCTCTTCTAG CAATGGAATA CT
#GTTCTGGA    300
GGAGATCTCC GAAAGCTGCT CAACAAACCA GAAAATTGTT GTGGACTTAA AG
#AAAGCCAG    360
ATACTTTCTT TACTAAGTGA TATAGGGTCT GGGATTCGAT ATTTGCATGA AA
#ACAAAATT    420
ATACATCGAG ATCTAAAACC TGAAAACATA GTTCTTCAGG ATGTTGGTGG AA
#AGATAATA    480
CATAAAATAA TTGATCTGGG ATATGCCAAA GATGTTGATC AAGGAAGTCT GT
#GTACATCT    540
TTTGTGGGAA CACTGCAGTA TCTGGCCCCA GAGCTCTTTG AGAATAAGCC TT
#ACACAGCC    600
ACTGTTGATT ATTGGAGCTT TGGGACCATG GTATTTGAAT GTATTGCTGG AT
#ATAGGCCT    660
TTTTTGCATC ATCTGCAGCC ATTTACCTGG CATGAGAAGA TTAAGAAGAA GG
#ATCCAAAG    720
TGTATATTTG CATGTGAAGA GATGTCAGGA GAAGTTCGGT TTAGTAGCCA TT
#TACCTCAA    780
CCAAATAGCC TTTGTAGTTT AATAGTAGAA CCCATGGAAA ACTGGCTACA GT
#TGATGTTG    840
AATTGGGACC CTCAGCAGAG AGGAGGACCT GTTGACCTTA CTTTGAAGCA GC
#CAAGATGT    900
TTTGTATTAA TGGATCACAT TTTGAATTTG AAGATAGTAC ACATCCTAAA TA
#TGACTTCT    960
GCAAAGATAA TTTCTTTTCT GTTACCACCT GATGAAAGTC TTCATTCACT AC
#AGTCTCGT   1020
ATTGAGCGTG AAACTGGAAT AAATACTGGT TCTCAAGAAC TTCTTTCAGA GA
#CAGGAATT   1080
TCTCTGGATC CTCGGAAACC AGCCTCTCAA TGTGTTCTAG ATGGAGTTAG AG
#GCTGTGAT   1140
AGCTATATGG TTTATTTGTT TGATAAAAGT AAAACTGTAT ATGAAGGGCC AT
#TTGCTTCC   1200
AGAAGTTTAT CTGATTGTGT AAATTATATT GTACAGGACA GCAAAATACA GC
#TTCCAATT   1260
ATACAGCTGC GTAAAGTGTG GGCTGAAGCA GTGCACTATG TGTCTGGACT AA
#AAGAAGAC   1320
TATAGCAGGC TCTTTCAGGG ACAAAGGGCA GCAATGTTAA GTCTTCTTAG AT
#ATAATGCT   1380
AACTTAACAA AAATGAAGAA CACTTTGATC TCAGCATCAC AACAACTGAA AG
#CTAAATTG   1440
GAGTTTTTTC ACAAAAGCAT TCAGCTTGAC TTGGAGAGAT ACAGCGAGCA GA
#TGACGTAT   1500
GGGATATCTT CAGAAAAAAT GCTAAAAGCA TGGAAAGAAA TGGAAGAAAA GG
#CCATCCAC   1560
TATGCTGAGG TTGGTGTCAT TGGATACCTG GAGGATCAGA TTATGTCTTT GC
#ATGCTGAA   1620
ATCATGGAGC TACAGAAGAG CCCCTATGGA AGACGTCAGG GAGACTTGAT GG
#AATCTCTG   1680
GAACAGCGTG CCATTGATCT ATATAAGCAG TTAAAACACA GACCTTCAGA TC
#ACTCCTAC   1740
AGTGACAGCA CAGAGATGGT GAAAATCATT GTGCACACTG TGCAGAGTCA GG
#ACCGTGTG   1800
CTCAAGGAGC TGTTTGGTCA TTTGAGCAAG TTGTTGGGCT GTAAGCAGAA GA
#TTATTGAT   1860
CTACTCCCTA AGGTGGAAGT GGCCCTCAGT AATATCAAAG AAGCTGACAA TA
#CTGTCATG   1920
TTCATGCAGG GAAAAAGGCA GAAAGAAATA TGGCATCTCC TTAAAATTGC CT
#GTACACAG   1980
AGTTCTGCCC GGTCCCTTGT AGGATCCAGT CTAGAAGGTG CAGTAACCCC TC
#AGACATCA   2040
GCATGGCTGC CCCCGACTTC AGCAGAACAT GATCATTCTC TGTCATGTGT GG
#TAACTCCT   2100
CAAGATGGGG AGACTTCAGC ACAAATGATA GAAGAAAATT TGAACTGCCT TG
#GCCATTTA   2160
AGCACTATTA TTCATGAGGC AAATGAGGAA CAGGGCAATA GTATGATGAA TC
#TTGATTGG   2220
AGTTGGTTAA CAGAATGA
#
#
#2238
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 745 amino
#acids
(B) TYPE: amino acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:
#4:
Met Glu Arg Pro Pro Gly Leu Arg Pro Gly Al
#a Gly Gly Pro Trp Glu
1               5
#                10
#                15
Met Arg Glu Arg Leu Gly Thr Gly Gly Phe Gl
#y Asn Val Cys Leu Tyr
20
#             25
#             30
Gln His Arg Glu Leu Asp Leu Lys Ile Ala Il
#e Lys Ser Cys Arg Leu
35
#         40
#         45
Glu Leu Ser Thr Lys Asn Arg Glu Arg Trp Cy
#s His Glu Ile Gln Ile
50
#     55
#     60
Met Lys Lys Leu Asn His Ala Asn Val Val Ly
#s Ala Cys Asp Val Pro
65
# 70
# 75
# 80
Glu Glu Leu Asn Ile Leu Ile His Asp Val Pr
#o Leu Leu Ala Met Glu
85
#                 90
#                 95
Tyr Cys Ser Gly Gly Asp Leu Arg Lys Leu Le
#u Asn Lys Pro Glu Asn
100
#           105
#           110
Cys Cys Gly Leu Lys Glu Ser Gln Ile Leu Se
#r Leu Leu Ser Asp Ile
115
#       120
#       125
Gly Ser Gly Ile Arg Tyr Leu His Glu Asn Ly
#s Ile Ile His Arg Asp
130
#   135
#   140
Leu Lys Pro Glu Asn Ile Val Leu Gln Asp Va
#l Gly Gly Lys Ile Ile
145                 1
#50                 1
#55                 1
#60
His Lys Ile Ile Asp Leu Gly Tyr Ala Lys As
#p Val Asp Gln Gly Ser
165
#               170
#               175
Leu Cys Thr Ser Phe Val Gly Thr Leu Gln Ty
#r Leu Ala Pro Glu Leu
180
#           185
#           190
Phe Glu Asn Lys Pro Tyr Thr Ala Thr Val As
#p Tyr Trp Ser Phe Gly
195
#       200
#       205
Thr Met Val Phe Glu Cys Ile Ala Gly Tyr Ar
#g Pro Phe Leu His His
210
#   215
#   220
Leu Gln Pro Phe Thr Trp His Glu Lys Ile Ly
#s Lys Lys Asp Pro Lys
225                 2
#30                 2
#35                 2
#40
Cys Ile Phe Ala Cys Glu Glu Met Ser Gly Gl
#u Val Arg Phe Ser Ser
245
#               250
#               255
His Leu Pro Gln Pro Asn Ser Leu Cys Ser Le
#u Ile Val Glu Pro Met
260
#           265
#           270
Glu Asn Trp Leu Gln Leu Met Leu Asn Trp As
#p Pro Gln Gln Arg Gly
275
#       280
#       285
Gly Pro Val Asp Leu Thr Leu Lys Gln Pro Ar
#g Cys Phe Val Leu Met
290
#   295
#   300
Asp His Ile Leu Asn Leu Lys Ile Val His Il
#e Leu Asn Met Thr Ser
305                 3
#10                 3
#15                 3
#20
Ala Lys Ile Ile Ser Phe Leu Leu Pro Pro As
#p Glu Ser Leu His Ser
325
#               330
#               335
Leu Gln Ser Arg Ile Glu Arg Glu Thr Gly Il
#e Asn Thr Gly Ser Gln
340
#           345
#           350
Glu Leu Leu Ser Glu Thr Gly Ile Ser Leu As
#p Pro Arg Lys Pro Ala
355
#       360
#       365
Ser Gln Cys Val Leu Asp Gly Val Arg Gly Cy
#s Asp Ser Tyr Met Val
370
#   375
#   380
Tyr Leu Phe Asp Lys Ser Lys Thr Val Tyr Gl
#u Gly Pro Phe Ala Ser
385                 3
#90                 3
#95                 4
#00
Arg Ser Leu Ser Asp Cys Val Asn Tyr Ile Va
#l Gln Asp Ser Lys Ile
405
#               410
#               415
Gln Leu Pro Ile Ile Gln Leu Arg Lys Val Tr
#p Ala Glu Ala Val His
420
#           425
#           430
Tyr Val Ser Gly Leu Lys Glu Asp Tyr Ser Ar
#g Leu Phe Gln Gly Gln
435
#       440
#       445
Arg Ala Ala Met Leu Ser Leu Leu Arg Tyr As
#n Ala Asn Leu Thr Lys
450
#   455
#   460
Met Lys Asn Thr Leu Ile Ser Ala Ser Gln Gl
#n Leu Lys Ala Lys Leu
465                 4
#70                 4
#75                 4
#80
Glu Phe Phe His Lys Ser Ile Gln Leu Asp Le
#u Glu Arg Tyr Ser Glu
485
#               490
#               495
Gln Met Thr Tyr Gly Ile Ser Ser Glu Lys Me
#t Leu Lys Ala Trp Lys
500
#           505
#           510
Glu Met Glu Glu Lys Ala Ile His Tyr Ala Gl
#u Val Gly Val Ile Gly
515
#       520
#       525
Tyr Leu Glu Asp Gln Ile Met Ser Leu His Al
#a Glu Ile Met Glu Leu
530
#   535
#   540
Gln Lys Ser Pro Tyr Gly Arg Arg Gln Gly As
#p Leu Met Glu Ser Leu
545                 5
#50                 5
#55                 5
#60
Glu Gln Arg Ala Ile Asp Leu Tyr Lys Gln Le
#u Lys His Arg Pro Ser
565
#               570
#               575
Asp His Ser Tyr Ser Asp Ser Thr Glu Met Va
#l Lys Ile Ile Val His
580
#           585
#           590
Thr Val Gln Ser Gln Asp Arg Val Leu Lys Gl
#u Leu Phe Gly His Leu
595
#       600
#       605
Ser Lys Leu Leu Gly Cys Lys Gln Lys Ile Il
#e Asp Leu Leu Pro Lys
610
#   615
#   620
Val Glu Val Ala Leu Ser Asn Ile Lys Glu Al
#a Asp Asn Thr Val Met
625                 6
#30                 6
#35                 6
#40
Phe Met Gln Gly Lys Arg Gln Lys Glu Ile Tr
#p His Leu Leu Lys Ile
645
#               650
#               655
Ala Cys Thr Gln Ser Ser Ala Arg Ser Leu Va
#l Gly Ser Ser Leu Glu
660
#           665
#           670
Gly Ala Val Thr Pro Gln Thr Ser Ala Trp Le
#u Pro Pro Thr Ser Ala
675
#       680
#       685
Glu His Asp His Ser Leu Ser Cys Val Val Th
#r Pro Gln Asp Gly Glu
690
#   695
#   700
Thr Ser Ala Gln Met Ile Glu Glu Asn Leu As
#n Cys Leu Gly His Leu
705                 7
#10                 7
#15                 7
#20
Ser Thr Ile Ile His Glu Ala Asn Glu Glu Gl
#n Gly Asn Ser Met Met
725
#               730
#               735
Asn Leu Asp Trp Ser Trp Leu Thr Glu
740
#           745
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:
(i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:
(A) LENGTH: 2146 base
#pairs
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid
(C) STRANDEDNESS: double
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear
(ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:
#5:
GTACCAGCAT CGGGAACTTG ATCTCAAAAT AGCAATTAAG TCTTGTCGCC TA
#GAGCTAAG     60
TACCAAAAAC AGAGAACGAT GGTGCCATGA AATCCAGATT ATGAAGAAGT TG
#AACCATGC    120
CAATGTTGTA AAGGCCTGTG ATGTTCCTGA AGAATTGAAT ATTTTGATTC AT
#GATGTGCC    180
TCTTCTAGCA ATGGAATACT GTTCTGGAGG AGATCTCCGA AAGCTGCTCA AC
#AAACCAGA    240
AAATTGTTGT GGACTTAAAG AAAGCCAGAT ACTTTCTTTA CTAAGTGATA TA
#GGGTCTGG    300
GATTCGATAT TTGCATGAAA ACAAAATTAT ACATCGAGAT CTAAAACCTG AA
#AACATAGT    360
TCTTCAGGAT GTTGGTGGAA AGATAATACA TAAAATAATT GATCTGGGAT AT
#GCCAAAGA    420
TGTTGATCAA GGAAGTCTGT GTACATCTTT TGTGGGAACA CTGCAGTATC TG
#GCCCCAGA    480
GCTCTTTGAG AATAAGCCTT ACACAGCCAC TGTTGATTAT TGGAGCTTTG GG
#ACCATGGT    540
ATTTGAATGT ATTGCTGGAT ATAGGCCTTT TTTGCATCAT CTGCAGCCAT TT
#ACCTGGCA    600
TGAGAAGATT AAGAAGAAGG ATCCAAAGTG TATATTTGCA TGTGAAGAGA TG
#TCAGGAGA    660
AGTTCGGTTT AGTAGCCATT TACCTCAACC AAATAGCCTT TGTAGTTTAA TA
#GTAGAACC    720
CATGGAAAAC TGGCTACAGT TGATGTTGAA TTGGGACCCT CAGCAGAGAG GA
#GGACCTGT    780
TGACCTTACT TTGAAGCAGC CAAGATGTTT TGTATTAATG GATCACATTT TG
#AATTTGAA    840
GATAGTACAC ATCCTAAATA TGACTTCTGC AAAGATAATT TCTTTTCTGT TA
#CCACCTGA    900
TGAAAGTCTT CATTCACTAC AGTCTCGTAT TGAGCGTGAA ACTGGAATAA AT
#ACTGGTTC    960
TCAAGAACTT CTTTCAGAGA CAGGAATTTC TCTGGATCCT CGGAAACCAG CC
#TCTCAATG   1020
TGTTCTAGAT GGAGTTAGAG GCTGTGATAG CTATATGGTT TATTTGTTTG AT
#AAAAGTAA   1080
AACTGTATAT GAAGGGCCAT TTGCTTCCAG AAGTTTATCT GATTGTGTAA AT
#TATATTGT   1140
ACAGGACAGC AAAATACAGC TTCCAATTAT ACAGCTGCGT AAAGTGTGGG CT
#GAAGCAGT   1200
GCACTATGTG TCTGGACTAA AAGAAGACTA TAGCAGGCTC TTTCAGGGAC AA
#AGGGCAGC   1260
AATGTTAAGT CTTCTTAGAT ATAATGCTAA CTTAACAAAA ATGAAGAACA CT
#TTGATCTC   1320
AGCATCACAA CAACTGAAAG CTAAATTGGA GTTTTTTCAC AAAAGCATTC AG
#CTTGACTT   1380
GGAGAGATAC AGCGAGCAGA TGACGTATGG GATATCTTCA GAAAAAATGC TA
#AAAGCATG   1440
GAAAGAAATG GAAGAAAAGG CCATCCACTA TGCTGAGGTT GGTGTCATTG GA
#TACCTGGA   1500
GGATCAGATT ATGTCTTTGC ATGCTGAAAT CATGGAGCTA CAGAAGAGCC CC
#TATGGAAG   1560
ACGTCAGGGA GACTTGATGG AATCTCTGGA ACAGCGTGCC ATTGATCTAT AT
#AAGCAGTT   1620
AAAACACAGA CCTTCAGATC ACTCCTACAG TGACAGCACA GAGATGGTGA AA
#ATCATTGT   1680
GCACACTGTG CAGAGTCAGG ACCGTGTGCT CAAGGAGCGT TTTGGTCATT TG
#AGCAAGTT   1740
GTTGGGCTGT AAGCAGAAGA TTATTGATCT ACTCCCTAAG GTGGAAGTGG CC
#CTCAGTAA   1800
TATCAAAGAA GCTGACAATA CTGTCATGTT CATGCAGGGA AAAAGGCAGA AA
#GAAATATG   1860
GCATCTCCTT AAAATTGCCT GTACACAGAG TTCTGCCCGC TCTCTTGTAG GA
#TCCAGTCT   1920
AGAAGGTGCA GTAACCCCTC AAGCATACGC ATGGCTGGCC CCCGACTTAG CA
#GAACATGA   1980
TCATTCTCTG TCATGTGTGG TAACTCCTCA AGATGGGGAG ACTTCAGCAC AA
#ATGATAGA   2040
AGAAAATTTG AACTGCCTTG GCCATTTAAG CACTATTATT CATGAGGCAA AT
#GAGGAACA   2100
GGGCAATAGT ATGATGAATC TTGATTGGAG TTGGTTAACA GAATGA
#               2146

Claims

1. An isolated IKK-αGlu543 polypeptide, comprising at least 10 consecutive amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:4, which consecutive amino acid residues comprise the amino acid residue 543 (Glu) of SEQ ID NO:4.

2. An isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said polypeptide has an activity selected from at least one of: a kinase or kinase inhibitory activity, a NIK-binding or binding inhibitory activity, an IκB-binding or binding inhibitory activity and an NFκB activating or inhibitory activity.

3. An isolated or recombinant IKK-αA1628 nucleic acid comprising at least 24 consecutive nucleotides of the nucleotide sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:3, which consecutive polynucleotides comprise the polynucleotide 1628 (A) of SEQ ID NO:3.

4. A recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide according to claim 1.

5. A cell comprising a nucleic acid according to claim 4.

6. A method of making an isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, said method comprising steps: introducing a nucleic acid according to claim 4 into a host cell or cellular extract, incubating said host cell or extract under conditions whereby said nucleic acid is expressed as a transcript and said transcript is expressed as a translation product comprising said polypeptide, and isolating said translation product.

7. A method of screening for an agent which modulates the interaction of an IKK polypeptide to a binding target, said method comprising the steps of: incubating a mixture comprising: an isolated polypeptide according to claim 1, a binding target of said polypeptide, and a candidate agent; under conditions whereby, but for the presence of said agent, said polypeptide specifically binds said binding target at a reference affinity; detecting the binding affinity of said polypeptide to said binding target to determine an agent-biased affinity, wherein a difference between the agent-biased affinity and the reference affinity indicates that said agent modulates the binding of said polypeptide to said binding target.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said binding target is a natural intracellular substrate and said reference and agent-biased binding affinity is detected as phosphorylation of said substrate.

9. A method of screening for an agent which modulates the interaction of an IKK polypeptide to a binding target, said method comprising the steps of: incubating a mixture comprising: an isolated polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, or a deletion mutant thereof retaining IκB kinase activity, an IκB polypeptide comprising at least a six residue domain of a natural IκB comprising at least one of Ser32 and Ser 36, and a candidate agent; under conditions whereby, but for the presence of said agent, said polypeptide specifically phosphorylates said IκB polypeptide at at least one of said Ser32 and Ser36 at a reference activity; detecting the polypeptide-induced phosphorylation of said IκB polypeptide at at least one of said Ser32 and Ser36 to determine an agent-biased activity, wherein a difference between the agent-biased activity and the reference activity indicates that said agent modulates the ability of said polypeptide to specifically phosphorylate a IκB polypeptide.

10. A method for modulating signal transduction involving IκB in a cell, said method comprising the step of modulating IKK-α (SEQ ID NO:4) kinase activity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said modulating step comprises contacting the cell with a serine/threonine kinase inhibitor.