NF-kappa-B is a pleiotropic transcription factor present in almost all cell types and is the endpoint of a series of signal transduction events that are initiated by a vast array of stimuli related to many biological processes such as inflammation, immunity, differentiation, cell growth, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. NF-kappa-B is a homo- or heterodimeric complex formed by the Rel-like domain-containing proteins. The dimers bind at kappa-B sites in the DNA of their target genes and the individual dimers have distinct preferences for different kappa-B sites that they can bind with distinguishable affinity and specificity. Different dimer combinations act as transcriptional activators or repressors, respectively. NF-kappa-B is controlled by various mechanisms of post-translational modification and subcellular compartmentalization as well as by interactions with other cofactors or corepressors. NF-kappa-B complexes are held in the cytoplasm in an inactive state complexed with members of the NF-kappa-B inhibitor (I-kappa-B) family. In a conventional activation pathway, I-kappa-B is phosphorylated by I-kappa-B kinases (IKKs) in response to different activators, subsequently degraded thus liberating the active NF-kappa-B complex which translocates to the nucleus. RELA shows a weak DNA-binding site which could contribute directly to DNA binding in the NF-kappa-B complex. Nuclear, but also found in the cytoplasm in an inactive form complexed to an inhibitor (I-kappa-B). Predominantly in the animal hemisphere of the oocyte; all tissues of early embryo. Oocyte and early embryo. The transcriptional activation domain 1/TA1 and the transcriptional activation domain 2/TA2 have direct transcriptional activation properties (By similarity). The 9aaTAD motif found within the transcriptional activation domain 2 is a conserved motif present in a large number of transcription factors that is required for their transcriptional transactivation activity (By similarity).