IKKepsilon is part of a novel PMA-inducible IkappaB kinase complex.

Here we report the identification of a novel PMA-inducible IkappaB kinase complex, distinct from the well-characterized high-molecular weight IkappaB kinase complex containing IKKalpha, IKKbeta, and IKKgamma. We have characterized one kinase from this complex, which we designate IKKepsilon. Although recombinant IKKepsilon directly phosphorylates only serine 36 of IKBalpha, the PMA-activated endogenous IKKepsilon complex phosphorylates both critical serine residues. Remarkably, this activity is due to the presence of a distinct kinase in this complex. A dominant-negative mutant of IKKepsilon blocks induction of NF-kappaB by both PMA and activation of the T cell receptor but has no effect on the activation of NF-KB by TNFalpha or IL-1. These observations indicate that the activation of NF-kappaB requires multiple distinct IkappaB kinase complexes, which respond to both overlapping and discrete signaling pathways.