Flicking the molecular switch underlying MLKL-mediated necroptosis

Abstract

The pseudokinase domain of the necroptosis effector mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) functions as a latch to restrain the unleashing of its N-terminal 4-helix bundle (4HB) domain. Cell death mediated by the 4HB domain relies on membrane association and oligomerization, which can be inhibited by an ATP-mimetic small molecule that binds the pseudokinase domain of MLKL.