NODs: intracellular proteins involved in inflammation and apoptosis

NOD (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain) proteins are members of a family that includes the apoptosis regulator APAF1 (apoptotic protease activating factor 1), mammalian NOD-LRR (leucine-rich repeat) proteins and plant disease-resistance gene products. Several NOD proteins have been implicated in the induction of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity and in the activation of caspases. Two members of the NOD family, NOD1 and NOD2, mediate the...