This gene encodes a member of the receptor-interacting protein family of serine/threonine protein kinases. The encoded protein contains a C-terminal caspase activation and recruitment domain, and is a component of signaling complexes in both the innate and adaptive immune pathways. It is a potent activator of nuclear factor kappa B and inducer of apoptosis in response to various stimuli. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2016]