Intracellular TRAFs and extracellular meprins share a conserved region of about 180 residues, the the meprin and TRAF homology (MATH) domain which adopts a beta-sandwich structure. This is the MATH domain of TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) and meprins. In TRAFS, it is essential for self-association and receptor interaction [1-3]. Meprins are mammalian tissue-specific metalloendopeptidases involved developmental, normal and pathological processes.

1: The structural basis for the recognition of diverse receptor sequences by TRAF2. Ye H, Park YC, Kreishman M, Kieff E, Wu H; Mol Cell. 1999;4:321-330. PMID:10518213

2: Structural basis for the lack of E2 interaction in the RING domain of TRAF2. Yin Q, Lamothe B, Darnay BG, Wu H; Biochemistry. 2009;48:10558-10567. PMID:19810754

3: TRAF2 phosphorylation modulates tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced gene expression and cell resistance to apoptosis. Blackwell K, Zhang L, Thomas GS, Sun S, Nakano H, Habelhah H; Mol Cell Biol. 2009;29:303-314. PMID:18981220