Cytochrome C Stifled by PARC (IMAGE) University of North Carolina Health Care Caption In brain cancer cells, the protein PARC plays a key role in long-term cell survival. In both images, the red represents the protein cytochrome c, which is released when mitochondria are damaged and trigger apoptosis -- cell suicide. At left, injured brain cancer cells exhibit little cytochrome c; they use the protein PARC to degrade the released cytochrome c, allowing the cancer cells to survive. At right, when researchers reduced PARC, cytochrome c accumulated, allowing apoptosis to carry on. Credit Vivian Gama, PhD, UNC School of Medicine Usage Restrictions Must use full credit License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.