Death fold

The death fold is a tertiary structure motif commonly found in proteins involved in apoptosis or inflammation-related processes.

This motif is commonly found in domains that participate in protein–protein interactions leading to the formation of large functional complexes.

The two types of apoptosis, extrinsic and intrinsic, are tightly regulated by the interplay of activating and inhibitory pathways.

CARD domains are present on several mammalian procaspases, and have functions in apoptosis, cytokine processing, immune defense, and NF-κB activation.

DED-containing caspases function in death receptor-induced apoptosis in mammals, but differ in insects where they are involved in NF-κB signaling and antibacterial responses.