NAK is an IκB kinase-activating kinase

Phosphorylation of IκB by the IκB kinase (IKK) complex is a critical step leading to IκB degradation and activation of transcription factor NF- κB. The IKK complex contains two catalytic subunits, IKKα and IKKβ, the latter being indispensable for NFKB activation by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although IKK is activated by phosphorylation of the IKKβ activation loop, the physiological IKK kinases that mediate responses to extracellular stimuli remain obscure. Here we describe an IKK-related kinase, named NAK (NF-κB- activating kinase), that can activate IKK through direct phosphorylation. NAK induces IκB degradation and NF-κB activity through IKKβ. Endogenous NAK is activated by phorbol ester tumour promoters and growth factors, whereas catalytically inactive NAK specifically inhibits activation of NFKB by protein kinase C-ε (PKCε). Thus, NAK is an IKK kinase that may mediate IKK and NF-κB activation in response to growth factors that stimulate PKCε activity.