NLRP1/NALP1 Antibody – Mouse Monoclonal

This gene encodes a member of the Ced-4 family of apoptosis proteins. Ced-family members contain a caspase recruitment domain (CARD) and are known to be key mediators of programmed cell death. The encoded protein contains a distinct N-terminal pyrin-like motif, which is possibly involved in protein-protein interactions. This protein interacts strongly with caspase 2 and weakly with caspase 9. Overexpression of this gene was demonstrated to induce apoptosis in cells. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been found for this gene, but the biological validity of some variants has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

As the sensor component of the NLRP1 inflammasome, plays a crucial role in innate immunity and inflammation. In response to pathogens and other damage-associated signals, initiates the formation of the inflammasome polymeric complex, made of NLRP1, CASP1, and possibly PYCARD. Recruitment of proCASP1 to the inflammasome promotes its activation and CASP1-catalyzed IL1B and IL18 maturation and secretion in the extracellular milieu. Activation of NLRP1 inflammasome is also required for HMGB1 secretion. The active cytokines and HMGB1 stimulate inflammatory responses. Inflammasomes can also induce pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death (PubMed:22665479, PubMed:17418785). May be activated by muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a fragment of bacterial peptidoglycan, in a NOD2-dependent manner (PubMed:18511561). Contrary to its mouse ortholog, not activated by Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (PubMed:19651869). It is unclear whether isoform 2 is involved in inflammasome formation. It is not cleaved within the FIIND domain, does not assemble into specks, nor promote IL1B release (PubMed:22665479). However, in an vitro cell-free system, it has been shown to be activated by MDP (PubMed:17349957). Binds ATP (PubMed:11113115, PubMed:15212762).