Polyclonal antibody to CARD12 (IPAF/ClAN)

Ipaf (also known as Clan/CARD12) is a CARD domain containing protein. In general CARD proteins are implicated in host defense against infection, environmental stress or cellular damage. CARD domains are found in the N-terminal pro-domains of certain caspases, a family of apoptotic and pro-inflammatory proteases, as well as in a diversity of other proteins including Ipaf/Clan/CARD12. There are at least three major signaling pathways in which CARD proteins act: (1) Regulation of caspase activation in the context of apoptosis (2) Regulation of caspase activation in the context of inflammation (3) Regaultion of NF-kB activation in the context of innate or adaptive immune responses. As there is significant crosstalk between pathways that lead to caspase-mediated apoptosis or inflammation and pathways that result in NF-kB activation, it is logical that similar protein modules such as CARD domains are found repeatedly in proteins from all three pathways. Ipaf plays a role in regulating caspase-1 activity, which in turn mediates the maturation of inflammatory cytokines IL-1b and IL-18. Ipaf also interact with the pro-apoptotic adaptor protein ASC and co-expression of Ipaf with ASC has been shown to induce NF-kB activation and apoptosis.