The DAPIN family: a novel domain links apoptotic and interferon response proteins

We report the discovery of a protein domain, hereafter referred to as DAPIN, in diverse vertebrate and viral proteins that is associated with tumor biology apoptosis and inflammation. Based on a secondary structure prediction, we suggest an all-alpha fold for DAPIN, which is also adopted by apoptotic protein domains of the CARD, death domain and death effector domain type.