Abstract: The present invention addresses a need in the art for methods of identifying apoptotic proteins and methods for screening compounds which inhibit an apoptotic protein. More particularly, in certain embodiments, the invention relates to increased expression levels of a NALP1 gene and/or a NALP5 gene following neuron injury. In other embodiments, the present invention demonstrates that the recombinant expression of NALP1 and/or NALP5 polynucleotides stimulates apoptosis in cultured neurons, HeLa cells and NIH-3T3 cells. In yet other embodiments, the invention relates to mutations in the nucleotide binding sequence (NBS) of a NALP1 or a NALP5 polypeptide, wherein these NBS mutations inhibit purine nucleotide binding and reduce caspase activation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a newly identified human and mouse programmed cell death (PCD) protein having homology to mammalian subtilases. The invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the protein. The invention further relates to methods using the polypeptides and polynucleotides as a target for diagnosis and treatment in disorders mediated by or related to the protein. The invention further relates to drug-screening methods using the polypeptides and polynucleotides to identify agonists and antagonists for diagnosis and treatment. The invention further encompasses agonists and antagonists based on the polypeptides and polynucleotides. The invention further relates to procedures for producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides.