| We identified a protein termed SIKE ( for Suppressor of IKKepsilon ) that interacts with IKKepsilon and TBK 1 . ^^^ SIKE is associated with TBK 1 under physiological condition and dissociated from TBK 1 upon viral infection or TLR 3 stimulation . ^^^ Overexpression of SIKE disrupted the interactions of IKKepsilon or TBK 1 with TRIF , RIG 1 and IRF 3 , components in virus and TLR 3 triggered IRF 3 activation pathways , but did not disrupt the interactions of TRIF with TRAF 6 and RIP , components in TLR 3 triggered NF kappaB activation pathway . ^^^ Moreover , overexpression of SIKE inhibited IKKepsilon and TBK 1 mediated antiviral response . ^^^ These findings suggest that SIKE is a physiological suppressor of IKKepsilon and TBK 1 and plays an inhibitory role in virus and TLR 3 triggered IRF 3 but not NF kappaB activation pathways . . ^^^ |