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. 2004 Mar 18;23(7):1627–1635. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600155

Figure 8.

Figure 8

Schematic model of ARTS mechanism of action in apoptosis. In living cells, ARTS is localized to the mitochondria. Upon pro-apoptotic stimuli, ARTS is released from mitochondria in a caspase-independent manner and binds to XIAP. Eventually, the ARTS–XIAP complex translocates to the nucleus. As the release of Smac/Diablo from mitochondria is thought to require caspase activity, it appears that ARTS acts at an earlier stage during apoptosis. ARTS binding to XIAP downregulates XIAP levels, which releases caspase activation, leading to apoptotic cell death.