Q9ULZ3

ASC also known as TMS1, PYCARD is a critical member of the CARD-containing adaptor protein family. ASC playing a pivotal role in apoptotic signaling by mediating interactions between adaptor proteins like Apaf-1 and pro-caspases such as CASP9. Structurally, ASC comprises a Pyrin-like domain (PYD) at the N-terminus and an 87-residue caspase recruitment domain (CARD) at the C-terminus, which are essential for its function in apoptosis regulation. Upon induction of apoptosis, ASC undergoes a transformation from diffuse cytoplasmic distribution to forming punctate or spherical perinuclear aggregates, a process that can be visualized through fluorescence microscopy. This aggregation is significant in the cellular response to apoptotic stimuli, including treatments with retinoic acid and various anti-tumor drugs.