Mutations in the parkin gene are a major cause of autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease. Here we show that the E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin activates signaling through the I{kappa}B kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor {kappa}B (NF-{kappa}B) pathway. Our analysis revealed that activation of this signaling cascade is causally linked to the neuroprotective potential of parkin. Inhibition of NF-{kappa}B activation by an I{kappa}B super-repressor or a kinase-inactive IKKß interferes with the neuroprotective activity of parkin. Furthermore, pathogenic parkin mutants with an impaired neuroprotective capacity show a reduced ability to stimulate NF-{kappa}B-dependent transcription. Finally, we present evidence that parkin interacts with and promotes degradation-independent ubiquitylation of IKK{gamma}/NEMO (NF-{kappa}B essential modifier) and TRAF2 [TNF (tumor necrosis factor) receptor-associated factor 2], two critical components of the NF-{kappa}B pathway. Thus, our results support a direct link between the neuroprotective activity of parkin and ubiquitin signaling in the IKK/NF-{kappa}B pathway