NALP9 Background Information NACHT-, LRR- and PYD-containing protein (NALP) family function in the regulation of apoptosis and inflammatory signaling pathways. Members of the NALP family (also designated Pyrin-containing APAF1-like proteins) include NALP1 through NALP11. Several family members, such as NALP1, NALP2, NALP3 and NALP6 influence NFkB and caspase pathways as components of the inflammasome. NALP5 (also designated MATER) is a maternal effect protein required for early embryonic development. Most short NALPs, such as NALP9 (NOD6), have a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region, an N-terminal pyrin (MEFV) domain (PYD), followed by a NACHT domain and a NACHT-associated domain (NAD). The 986-amino acid NALP9 protein has the characteristic PYD-NACHT-LRR domain structure found in the NALP family and the NALP9 gene maps to chromosome 19q13.42, in a cluster with several other NALP genes.
