NLR Family, CARD Domain Containing Protein 4 (NLRC4)

The deduced full-length 1,024-amino acid protein, termed CLANA, contains the CARD, LRR, and NACHT domains, including 4 LRRs, whereas the 359-residue protein, termed CLANB, has the CARD spliced directly to the LRRs. The 156- and 92-amino acid proteins, termed CLANC and CLAND, contain only the CARD and regions with no homology to known motifs. Northern blot analysis revealed nearly ubiquitous expression of a 1.5-kb transcript corresponding to CARDB, with highest levels in lung and spleen. A 3.5-kb transcript corresponding to CLANA was detected primarily in lung. RT-PCR analysis showed ubiquitous expression of CLANB, while CLANA was restricted to lung, colon, brain, prostate, spleen, and leukocytes, predominantly monocytes.