Assembly and regulation of ASC specks. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The inflammasome adapter ASC links activated inflammasome sensors to the effector molecule pro-caspase-1. Recruitment of pro-caspase-1 to ASC promotes the autocatalytic activation of caspase-1, which leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β. Upon triggering of inflammasome sensors, ASC assembles into large helical fibrils that interact with each other serving as a supramolecular signaling platform termed the ASC speck. Alternative splicing, post-translational modifications of ASC, as well as interaction with other proteins can perturb ASC function. In several inflammatory diseases, ASC specks can be found in the extracellular space and its presence correlates with poor prognosis. Here, we review the role of ASC in inflammation, and focus on the structural mechanisms that lead to ASC speck formation, the regulation of ASC function during inflammasome assembly, and the importance of ASC specks in disease.

publication date

  • October 19, 2016

Research

keywords

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84991826680

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s00018-016-2396-6

PubMed ID

  • 27761594

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 74

issue

  • 7