The NF-?B/RelA family of transcription factors regulates inducible transcription of a large number of genes in response to diverse stimuli. Little is known, however, about the location of NF-?B in the cytoplasm and the transport mechanism to the nucleus. We found that NF-?B is associated with the actin-binding protein a-actinin-4. NF-?B and a-actinin-4 co-localized along actin stress fibers and in membrane lamellae in A431 cells. After a 30-min stimulation with EGF or TNF-a, a-actinin-4 and p65 were found in the nucleus. Disruption of cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D prior to treatment with TNF-a led to increase of p65 nuclear translocation. Antibodies to p65 subunit of NF-?B co-immunoprecipitated a-actinin-4 from A431 cell lysates and nuclear extracts, but a-actinin-1 and ß-actin were not found in the precipitates. Affinity chromatography experiments displayed that p65 and p50 subunits of NF-?B can bind to matrix-bound chicken gizzard a-actinin. We suggest that the a-actinin-4 is important for the NF-?B nuclear translocation and its functions inside the nucleus. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.