Cell demise inhibited: Unexpected liaisons between mitochondria and I kappa B alpha

I kappa B alpha (the protein product of NFKBIA gene) has widely been considered a pro- apoptotic factor due to its ability to inhibit the anti-apoptotic transcription factor NF kappa B. Our findings indicate that I kappa B alpha also exerts a strong anti-apoptotic activity at the outer mitochondria membrane (OMM). This function we uncovered is distinct from its ability to sequester and inhibit NF kappa B. I kappa B alpha instead binds to voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) and Hexokinase 2 (HK2), stabilizes this complex and prevents mitochondria outer membrane permeabilisation (MOMP) and apoptosis.