title: Human CARD4 protein is a novel CED-4/Apaf-1 cell death family member that activates NF-kappaB.
abstract: The nematode CED-4 protein and its human homolog Apaf-1 play a central role in apoptosis by functioning as direct activators of death-inducing caspases. A novel human CED-4/Apaf-1 family member called CARD4 was identified that has a domain structure strikingly similar to the cytoplasmic, receptor-like proteins that mediate disease resistance in plants. CARD4 interacted with the serine-threonine kinase RICK and potently induced NF-kappaB activity through TRAF-6 and NIK signaling molecules. In addition, coexpression of CARD4 augmented caspase-9-induced apoptosis. Thus, CARD4 coordinates downstream NF-kappaB and apoptotic signaling pathways and may be a component of the host innate immune response.
authors.affiliation: Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. bertin@mpi.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Tayber
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Errada
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Keilty
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Glucksmann
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: DiStefano
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D001483:Base Sequence; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C089224:Ced-4 protein, C elegans; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C119067:NOD1 protein, human; D053474:Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein; D011506:Proteins