Utilization of I kappa B-EGFP Chimeric Gene as an Indicator to Identify Microbial Metabolites with NF-kappa B Inhibitor Activity

Abstract

NF-kappa B regulates several important expressions, such as cytokine release, anti-apoptosis, adhesion molecule expression, and cell cycle processing. Several NF-kappa B inhibitors have been discovered as an anti-tumor or anti-inflammatory drug. The activity of NF-kappa B transcription factor is negatively regulated by I kappa B binding. In this study, I kappa B assay system was established and I kappa B-EGFP fusion protein was used as an indicator to monitor the effects of substances on the I kappa B degradation. The results indicated that the chosen hydroquinone could inhibit the I kappa B degradation and cause the cell de-attachment from the bottom of culture plate. In addition, this system could also monitor the I kappa B degradation of microbial metabolite of natural mixtures of propolis. Thus, the I kappa B assay system may be a good system for drug discovery related to microbial metabolite.