This gene belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. The encoded protein contains a protein kinase-like domain; however, is thought to be inactive because it lacks several residues required for activity. This protein plays a critical role in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced necroptosis, a programmed cell death process, via interaction with receptor-interacting protein 3 (RIP3), which is a key signaling molecule in necroptosis pathway. Inhibitor studies and knockdown of this gene inhibited TNF-induced necrosis.
High levels of this protein and RIP3 are associated with inflammatory bowel disease in children. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015]. A unique neurodegenerative disease has been reported in association with a homozygous frameshift mutation, rs561839347, in MLKL that causes replacement of part of the C-terminal pseudokinase domain with a 21-residue sequence of random amino acids.[6]
Murphy JM, Lucet IS, Hildebrand JM, Tanzer MC, Young SN, Sharma P, Lessene G, Alexander WS, Babon JJ, Silke J, Czabotar PE (2014). "Insights into the evolution of divergent nucleotide-binding mechanisms among pseudokinases revealed by crystal structures of human and mouse MLKL". Biochem. J. 457 (3): 369–77. doi:10.1042/BJ20131270. PMID24219132.
Pierdomenico M, Negroni A, Stronati L, Vitali R, Prete E, Bertin J, Gough PJ, Aloi M, Cucchiara S (2014). "Necroptosis is active in children with inflammatory bowel disease and contributes to heighten intestinal inflammation". Am. J. Gastroenterol. 109 (2): 279–87. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.403. PMID24322838. S2CID25540582.