Mask protein keeps NF-κB precursor inactive by inducing a closed conformation and isolating it in biomolecular condensates

Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) family transcription factors are critical for innate immune responses across a variety of organisms and are frequently dysregulated in diseases. Understanding their homeostatic regulation is essential for developing therapeutic strategies. Relish, a Drosophila homolog of mammalian NF-κB precursors, provides a valuable model for studying these processes. Although the activation of Relish upon stimulus is well-understood, the mechanisms maintaining its inactivity in the resting state remain unclear. Here, we identify the ankyrin repeat protein multiple ankyrin repeats single KH domain (Mask) as an inhibitor of Relish. Mask binds directly to Relish, facilitating it in a closed conformation, and forms biomolecular condensates that spatially segregate Relish from death-related ced-3/Nedd2-like protein (DREDD), a caspase necessary for Relish activation. Upon immune stimulation, Mask dissociates from Relish and is cleaved by DREDD, thus relieving the inhibition. Notably, Mask's regulatory role is partially conserved in mammals. Our findings provide important insights into NF-κB regulation and highlight the significance of biomolecular condensates in immune control.