Apoptosis
Definition
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. It plays a critical role in maintaining health by eliminating old, unnecessary, or damaged cells.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Apoptosis helps the immune system by removing infected or dysfunctional cells.
- It is characterized by distinct cellular changes like cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation.
- Unlike necrosis, apoptosis does not induce inflammation because it avoids spilling cellular contents into surrounding tissues.
- Viruses can inhibit apoptosis to prolong the survival of their host cells and enhance viral replication.
- Key proteins involved in apoptosis include caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and p53.
Review Questions
- What are the main differences between apoptosis and necrosis?
- How does apoptosis contribute to the functioning of the immune system?
- Name two proteins that play a crucial role in regulating apoptosis.
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Related terms
Necrosis: A form of traumatic cell death caused by acute cellular injury that often triggers inflammation.
Caspases: A family of protease enzymes playing essential roles in programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Bcl-2 Family Proteins: A group of proteins involved in regulating apoptosis by either promoting or inhibiting cell death.
