NALP4 Background Information
NALPs are a subfamily of cytoplasmic proteins within the larger family of CATERPILLER proteins. Most short NALPs, such as NALP4 (PAN2, PYPAF4), have an N-terminal pyrin (MEFV) domain (PYD), followed by a NACHT domain, a NACHT-associated domain (NAD) and a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region. Long NALPs, such as NALP1, also have C-terminal extensions containing caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) and function to find domains (FIINDs). NALPs are putative agents in the activation of proinflammatory caspases (e.g. CASP1) through their association with multiprotein complexes called inflammasomes. NALP4 demonstrates predominant expression in spleen tissue, followed by placenta, lung, liver, kidney, pancreas and thymus tissues.
