Clnk, as a third member of the Blnk/SLP-76 adapter family, is involved in the positive regulation of immunoreceptor signaling. Here we provide findings that Clnk may be is required for TNF induced cell death, it functions downstream of RIP3 and promotes TNF- induced ROS generation and MLKL tetramer formation and subsequent necrosis of L929 cells. Therefore, Clnk, as an adaptor protein, may take part in the other cellular processes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.