| Modification Notes |
Membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) family members localize to the plasma membrane and function as molecular scaffolds for the assembly of multi-protein complexes. The MAGUK family includes several mammalian proteins related to the Drosophila tumor suppressor discs-large (dlg) gene product such as postsynaptic proteins, GKAPs, the tight junction associated proteins (ZO-1-3), and the caspase-associated recruitment domain (CARD) proteins: CARD 6, CARD 8-12 and CARD 14. CARD 12 is expressed at high levels in bone marrow, and expressed at lower levels in lymph node, placenta, spleen, and brain tissues. CARD12 regulates the activation of caspase-1, a caspase that plays a role in both apoptotic signaling and cytokine processing. The nucleotide-binding site domain of CARD 12 is specific for ATP/dATP. CARD 12 associates with itself and with ASC, an associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, recently identified as a proapoptotic protein. Together, they induce apoptosis and inflammatory signaling pathways. |
