Apoptosis is mediated by death domain (DD) and/or caspase recruitment domain (CARD) containing molecules and a caspase family of proteases. The DD-containing serine/threonine kinase RIP regulates Fas-induced apoptosis. A novel CARD-containing serine/threonine kinase that regulates apoptosis was identified and designated RICK for RIP-like interacting CLARP kinase.1 RICK contains an N-terminal kinase catalytic domain and a C-terminal CARD domain. The RICK kinase domain has high sequence homology to that of RIP. Overexpression of RICK promotes the activation of caspase-8 and Fas-induced apoptosis. RICK represents a novel kinase that regulates Fas-induced apoptosis. The mRNA for RICK is expressed in multiple human tissues.1 RICK interacts with several Nod and T-cell receptor proteins and thereby confers signal transduction for innate and adaptive immune system responses.2WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.
