NLRC4
Description
The NLRC4 (NLR family CARD domain containing 4) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 2.
NLRC4 (NLR family CARD domain-containing protein 4) is a highly conserved protein across mammalian species. It shares similarities with the C. elegans Ced4 protein and belongs to a family of NLR proteins that includes the transcriptional co-activator CIITA and the canonical inflammasome protein NLRP3. NLRC4 contains an N-terminal CARD domain, a central nucleotide binding/NACHT domain, and a C-terminal leucine rich repeat (LRR) domain. Its primary function is triggering the formation of the inflammasome, a complex that initiates an inflammatory response. Unlike NLRP3, some NLRC4 inflammasome functions can occur independently of the inflammasome scaffold ASC. Human Ced4 homologs include APAF1, NOD1 (CARD4), and NOD2 (CARD15), which share a common structure: at least one N-terminal CARD domain, a centrally located nucleotide-binding domain (NBD or NACHT), and a C-terminal regulatory domain (with either WD40 repeats or leucine-rich repeats (LRRs)). CARD12, another member of the Ced4 family, can induce apoptosis.
NLRC4, a crucial component of inflammasomes, indirectly detects specific proteins from pathogenic bacteria and fungi. In response, it assembles an inflammasome complex, leading to caspase-1 activation, cytokine production, and macrophage pyroptosis (programmed cell death). This process plays a key role in the innate immune response against a wide range of intracellular bacteria.
NLRC4 is also known as AIFEC, CARD12, CLAN, CLAN1, CLANA, CLANB, CLANC, CLAND, CLR2.1, FCAS4, IPAF.
