AIM2-like receptors

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2)-like receptors (ALRs) are a family of pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in cytosolic and nuclear pathogen DNA recognition. Structurally, ALRs are characterized by a Pyrin signaling domain and a DNA-binding HIN domain. Interestingly, the ALR locus is highly variable in different species, For example, humans have 4 ALRs (AIM2, IFI16, PYHIN1, and MNDA), while mice have 13 or 14, including Aim2, p202, p203, p204, p205, p207, pyhin1, and cows have a single ALR. The best characterized ALR is AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2), the intracellular DNA sensor which signals via the adaptor protein ASC (Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD), to activate the inflammasome, a key arm of the innate immune system.