Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein
open-in-new
<p>Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein is a <a href="/facts/Neuroplasticity/c0o0fvVm">plasticity</a> <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein</a> that in humans is encoded by the <i>ARC</i> <a href="/facts/Gene/e1swwPY6">gene</a>. The gene is believed to derive from a <a href="/facts/Retrotransposon/E0SgHUjT">retrotransposon</a>. The protein is found in the neurons of <a href="/facts/Tetrapod/vWpAxzAW">tetrapods</a> and other animals where it can form virus-like <a href="/facts/Capsid/hm7V6Ewm">capsids</a> that transport RNA between neurons. </p><p><i>ARC</i> <a href="/facts/MRNA/oUL6qxQn">mRNA</a> is localized to activated synaptic sites in an <a href="/facts/NMDA_receptor/BqMhXEbU">NMDA receptor</a>-dependent manner, where the newly <a href="/facts/Translation_(genetics)/JcPC1rth">translated</a> protein is believed to play a critical role in learning and memory-related molecular processes. Arc protein is widely considered to be important in neurobiology because of its activity regulation, localization, and utility as a marker for plastic changes in the brain. Dysfunction in the production of Arc protein has been implicated as an important factor in understanding various neurological conditions, including <a href="/facts/Amnesia/mbHoWW9p">amnesia</a>, <a href="/facts/Alzheimer%27s_disease/w7Ad6tdg">Alzheimer's disease</a>, <a href="/facts/Autism_spectrum/bzouRyMI">Autism spectrum disorders</a>, and <a href="/facts/Fragile_X_syndrome/WWjbEWQE">Fragile X syndrome</a>. </p><p><i>ARC</i> was first characterized in 1995 and is a member of the <a href="/facts/Immediate-early_gene/nlN740BC">immediate-early gene</a> (IEG) family, a rapidly activated class of genes functionally defined by their ability to be <a href="/facts/Transcription_(genetics)/bDgp9HDN">transcribed</a> in the presence of <a href="/facts/Protein_synthesis_inhibitor/MNmKF8Mu">protein synthesis inhibitors</a>. Along with other IEGs such as <i><a href="/facts/Zif268/nbqUEnvG">ZNF268</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/HOMER1/h3HrUdzF">HOMER1</a></i>, <i>ARC</i> is a significant tool for <a href="/facts/Systems_neuroscience/ApgMwt1C">systems neuroscience</a> as illustrated by the development of the <i>cellular compartment analysis of temporal activity by fluorescence in situ hybridization</i>, or catFISH technique (see <a href="/facts/Fluorescent_in_situ_hybridization/L4juqPoq">fluorescent in situ hybridization</a>). </p>