Proteins

Proteins, proteomics

CARD domains

Caspase recruitment domains, or CARD domains are found in many proteins, particularly those that evoke inflammatory responses or apoptosis. Proteins with CARD domains include caspases, helicases, kinases, mitochondrial proteins, and other cytoplasmic factors.

CARD domains mediate the formation of large protein complexes through direct interactions between individual caspase recruitment domains. The domains belong to a subclass of protein motif termed the 'death fold', which comprises six to seven antiparallel alpha helices with a hydrophobic core and an outer face composed of charged residues, and which is conserved at least as far as the ced-3 and ced-4 genes in C. elegans. Other 'death fold' motifs in this class are found in the pyrin domain (PYD), death domain (DD), and death effector domain (DED). All function primarily in regulation of apoptosis and inflammatory responses.

The NACHT–leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein, Ipaf-1 features an N-terminal CARD domain, a nucleotide-binding domain, and C-terminal leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), homologous to those found in Toll-like receptors. Ipaf-1 has a primary role in regulation of proteolytic processing of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into their mature forms by way of association in a large complex known as the inflammasome.

Ipaf-1 activation by the intracellular bacterium S. typhimurium or other stress signals, causes Ipaf-1 to recruit a CARD-containing adapter termed ASC and caspase-1. This ASC•caspase-1 complex activates caspase-1 and leads to IL-1β and IL-18 maturation.

CARD proteins also participate in recognition of intracellular dsRNA found in a number of viral genomes, including the para-, orthomyxoviridae, and rhabdoviridae. Unlike NLRs, these RIG-I and MDA5 proteins contain twin N-terminal CARD domains plus C-terminal RNA helicase domains that directly interact with and process the double-stranded viral RNA. This processing renders the CARD domains available for interaction with the CARD motif of IPS-1/MAVS/VISA/Cardif, which is a mitochondrion-anchored downstream adaptor.

Because CARD proteins function as regulators of inflammation, the constitutive activation of certain CARD proteins might play a causative role in some inflammatory syndromes.

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C-reactive protein

C-reactive protein is an acute phase protein produced by the liver within 6 hours of an acute inflammatory stimulus. Levels peak after about 50 hours.

CRP is a pentraxin protein that exhibits calcium dependant ligand binding and a distinctive flattened β-jellyroll structure. (left - image - click to enlarge) CRP is so-named because it reacts with the somatic C polysaccharide of the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Serum amyloid P component is another pentraxin, acute phase protein.

CRP binds specifically to phosphocholine moieties, conferring a host-defensive role on CRP since phosphocholine is a component of microbial polysaccharides. CRP also binds to ligands exposed on damaged cells.

CRP-phosphocholine-binding:
● activates the classical complement pathway
● acts as an opsonin ligand for phagocytosis
● neutralizes the pro-inflammatory platelet-activating factor (PAF)
● down-regulates polymorphs
CRP
● increases production of tissue-factors by monocytes
● activates smooth muscle K+ ion channels (vasodilator)
● delays apoptosis of neutrophils when the pentameric structure is lost and the molecule exists as a monomer (mCRP)

CRP is mildly elevated in: systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, sermatomyositis, ulcerative colitis, leukaemia, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

The C-reactive protein medical test measures levels of CRP to assess acute inflammation. An association has been demonstrated between sudden cardiac death, peripheral arterial disease and hs-CRP, so serum CRP levels may correlate with cardiovascular disease risk.

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. . . since 11/21/06