NALP1 Background Information NACHT-, LRR- and PYD-containing protein 1 (NALP1), also designated caspase recruitment domain protein 7, is a cytoplasmic protein. NALP1 contains a putative nucleotide binding site, a region of leucine-rich repeats and death domain folds at both termini, providing protein/protein association functions such as caspase recruitment. NALP1 is involved in the innate immune response and is a component of the inflammasome. It forms cytoplasmic structures called death effector filaments and enhances APAF1 and cytochrome c-dependent activation of pro-caspase-9 and consecutive apoptosis. NALP1 is widely expressed in thymus, heart, spleen and peripheral blood leukocytes.
