Adapter molecule that plays a key role in the activation of pro-inflammatory NF-kappa-B signaling following detection of bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern metabolites (PAMPs) (  , ). Promotes activation of an innate immune response by inducing the oligomerization and polyubiquitination of TRAF6, which leads to the activation of TAK1 and IKK through a proteasome-independent mechanism (, ). TIFA-dependent innate immune response is triggered by ADP-D-glycero-beta-D-manno-heptose (ADP-Heptose), a potent PAMP present in all Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria: ADP-Heptose is recognized by ALPK1, which phosphorylates TIFA at Thr-9, leading to TIFA homooligomerization and subsequent activation of pro-inflammatory NF-kappa-B signaling .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm
Colocalizes with lysosomal marker LAMP2 following homooligomerization and subsequent activation.