Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is expressed in cancer cells and localizes to nuclei

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
12:55

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

Mi Wang1, Suparna Qanungo, Michael T Crow

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

FEBS Letters
|April 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is highly expressed in cancer cells, unlike its normal cytoplasmic location. This nuclear localization in cancer cells suggests ARC may play a role in cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is known to inhibit apoptosis in differentiated cells.
  • The expression and role of ARC in cancer remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and localization of ARC in various cancer cell lines.
  • To determine if ARC plays a role in neoplastic transformation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ARC expression in human and rat cancer cell lines.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy to determine ARC localization within cancer cells.
  • Co-localization studies with nucleolar protein 30 kDa.

Main Results:

  • ARC is highly expressed in diverse non-myogenic and non-neurogenic cancer cell lines.
  • Unlike in non-cancer cells, ARC is predominantly localized to the nucleus in cancer cells.
  • Nuclear ARC in cancer cells does not co-localize with the nucleolar protein 30 kDa.

Conclusions:

  • ARC exhibits differential distribution in cancer cells compared to non-cancer cells.
  • The nuclear localization of ARC in cancer cells suggests a potential role in neoplastic transformation.

More Related Videos

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation08:47

Lighting Up the Pathways to Caspase Activation Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Published on: March 5, 2018

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex07:17

Measuring Composition of CD95 Death-Inducing Signaling Complex and Processing of Procaspase-8 in this Complex

Published on: August 2, 2021

Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
Caspases01:24

Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...