CARD11/Carma1/Bimp3 belongs to the MAGUK family that typically function as molecular scaffolds in the assembly of multiprotein complexes. MAGUK family members contain an SH3 domain, a PDZ domain and a GuK domain homologous to guanylate kinase. In addition, CARD11 contains an amino-terminal CARD domain. This domain plays an important role in forming interactions with a number of proteins containing CARD domains that are involved in regulating apoptosis and NF-κB activation. CARD11 is predominately expressed in lymphocytes and associates with the CARD domain of Bcl10. When overexpressed, CARD11 leads to the phosphorylation of Bcl10 and activation of NF-κB. CARD11 is constitutively associated with lipid rafts and is thought to function by recruiting Bcl10 and MALT1 and triggering the phosphorylation of IKKs. Several studies using the genetic disruption of CARD11 or dominant-negative mutations have demonstrated that it plays a critical role in NF-κB activation and lymphocyte signaling.
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