NOD2

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) also known as caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 15 (CARD15) or inflammatory bowel disease protein 1 (IBD1) is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the NOD2 is_associated_with::gene located on chromosome 16. NOD2 plays an important role in the is_associated_with::immune system. It recognizes bacterial molecules (is_associated_with::peptidoglycans) and stimulates an immune reaction.

NOD2 is an intracellular is_associated_with::pattern recognition receptor, which is similar in structure to is_associated_with::resistant proteins of plants and recognizes molecules containing the specific structure called is_associated_with::muramyl dipeptide (MDP) that is found in certain is_associated_with::bacteria.

Structure


The C-terminal portion of the protein contains a is_associated_with::leucine-rich repeat domain that is known to play a role in protein–protein interactions. The middle part of the protein is characterized by a NOD domain involved in protein self-oligomerization. The N-terminal portion contains two is_associated_with::CARD domains known to play a role in is_associated_with::apoptosis and is_associated_with::NF-κB activation pathways.

Function
This gene is a member of the is_associated_with::NOD1/is_associated_with::Apaf-1 family (also known as is_associated_with::NOD-like receptor family) and encodes a protein with two is_associated_with::caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) and eleven is_associated_with::leucine-rich repeats (LRRs). The protein is primarily expressed in the peripheral blood is_associated_with::leukocytes. It plays a role in the immune response by recognizing the bacterial molecules which possess the is_associated_with::muramyl dipeptide (MDP) moiety and activating the is_associated_with::NF-κB protein.

Clinical significance
Mutations in this gene have been associated with is_associated_with::Crohn's disease and is_associated_with::Blau syndrome and graft-versus-host disease.

The NOD2 gene is linked to inflammatory diseases such as is_associated_with::inflammatory bowel disease/is_associated_with::Crohn's Disease and is_associated_with::Blau syndrome.

Interactions
NOD2 has been shown to interact with is_associated_with::NLRC4.

NOD2 has also been shown to bind to MAVS in response to ssRNA or viral RNA treatment and activate the IFN response. This is the first report of NOD2 acting as a pattern-recognition receptor for viruses.