title: NALPs: a novel protein family involved in inflammation.
abstract: A newly discovered family of cytoplasmic proteins--the NALPs--has been implicated in the activation of caspase-1 by the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) during the cell's response to microbial infection. Like the structurally related apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1), which is responsible for the activation of caspase-9, the NALP1 protein forms a large, signal-induced multiprotein complex, the inflammasome, resulting in the activation of pro-inflammatory caspases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, BIL Biomedical Research Center, Chemin des Boveresses 155, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland. jurg.tschopp@ib.unil.ch
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tschopp
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinon
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burns
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000201:enzymology*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D005810:Multigene Family; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D000070576:NLR Proteins; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: C506592:APAF1 protein, human; D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D053477:Apoptotic Protease-Activating Factor 1; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D000070576:NLR Proteins; C427903:NLRP1 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases