Transcription factor NF-kappa B is persistently activated in many chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. The short term regulation of NF-kappa B is well understood, but little is known about the mechanisms of its long term activation. We studied the effect of a single application of TNF-alpha on NF-kappa B activity for up to 48 h in intestinal epithelial cells. Results show that NF-kappa B remained persistently activated up to 48 h after TNF-alpha and that the long term activation of NF-kappa B was accompanied by a biphasic degradation of I kappa B alpha. The first phase of I kappa B alpha degradation was proteasome-dependent, but the second was not. Further investigation showed that TNF-alpha stimulated formation of autophagosomes in intestinal epithelial cells and that I kappa B alpha co-localized with autophagosomal vesicles. Pharmacological or genetic blockade of autophagosome formation or the inhibition of lysosomal proteases decreased TNF-alpha-induced degradation of I kappa B alpha and lowered NF-kappa B target gene expression. Together, these findings indicate a role of autophagy in the control of long term NF-kappa B activity. Because abnormalities in autophagy have been linked to ineffective innate immunity, we propose that alterations in NF-kappa B may mediate this effect.

Microcephalin (MCPH1/BRIT1) is a potential tumour suppressor that localizes to the centrosome, forms ionizing radiation-induced nuclear foci (IRIF) and is involved in the DNA damage checkpoints that ensure genome stability. Here, we report the impact of Mcph1 disruption in the hyper-recombinogenic DT40 cell line. Mcph1^−/− cells were viable and proliferated at the same rate as wild-type controls. Mcph1-deficient cells had intact G2-to-M checkpoint responses after ionizing radiation (IR) treatment, but showed moderate radiosensitivity. Light and electron microscopy indicated normal centrosome structures in Mcph1 null cells, but IR induced massive amplification of centrosome numbers in the absence of Mcph1. Mcph1 null cells formed γ-H2AX and Rad51 IRIF, but resolved them more slowly than wild-type cells. Mcph1 deficiency caused sustained Chk1 phosphorylation after IR, dysregulating Cdk2 activity. These findings show that Mcph1 controls centrosome numbers after DNA damage, which may indicate a novel tumour suppressive mechanism for microcephalin.