The NF-KAPPAB signaling pathway of the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis: functional characterization of core elements and two naturally occuring polymorphisms

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.The NF-κB family of eukaryotic transcription factors is activated in response to many environmental and biological stresses and is required for several important developmental processes. The sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (Nv) is the leading developmental and genomic model for the phylum Cnidaria, which includes anemones, hydras, jellyfish and corals. Sequencing of the Nematostella genome revealed sequences encoding NF-κB pathway proteins, including homologs of NF-κB, IκB, Bcl-3 and IKK. The goal ofthis research was to characterize molecular and biological functions of the Nv-NF-κB pathway proteins, in part because Nematostella is a model organism in which a framework for understanding the evolutionary origins of NF-κB signaling could be established. In this thesis, cDNAs for Nv-NF-κB pathway proteins were cloned and characterized. Nv-NF-κB is shown to bind to κB sites and activate transcription of reporter genes containing multimeric κB sites. Nv-NF-κB is localized in the nucleus of cells in developing Nematostella embryos and is expressed in the cytoplasm of a subset of ectodermal cells in juvenile and adult Nematostella. When over-expressed in human A293 cells, Nv-IκB and Nv-Bcl-3 can both interact with Nv-NF-κB and block its ability to activate reporter gene expression. Nv-IKK is most similar to human IKKc/TBK kinases, and can phosphorylate Nv-IκB in vitro. These results indicate that the core NF-κB pathway proteins in Nematostella are similar to their vertebrate homologs. This thesis also describes two geographically dispersed, naturally occurring NF-κB alleles in Nematostella. Proteins encoded by these two alleles, Nv-NF-κB-C and Nv-NF-κB-S, are polymorphic at key amino acids and have differing activities. Polymorphic residue 67 contributes to the difference between the two Nv-NF-κB variants in reporter gene transactivation. Computational modeling and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicate that polymorphic positions 67 and 269 are responsible for differences in DNA binding of the two NF-KB variants. Additionally, the DNA-binding activity of Nv-NF-κB-C is more sensitive to redox conditions and thiol-reactive compounds than is the activity of Nv-NF-κB-S. These results suggest that environmental conditions, such as oxidative stress, have driven the divergence of the two alleles