Members of the NALP protein family typically contain a NACHT domain, a NACHT-associated domain (NAD), a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) region, and an N-terminal pyrin domain (PYD). The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the NALP protein family despite lacking the LRR region. This protein likely plays a regulatory role in the innate immune system. The protein belongs to the signal-induced multiprotein complex, the inflammasome, that activates the pro-inflammatory caspases, caspase-1 and caspase-5. Other experiments indicate that this gene acts as a multifunctional negative regulator of inflammation and apoptosis.