Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
Signaling pathways and effector mechanisms pre-programmed cell death
1Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055, USA.
Abstract:
Apoptosis is a complex biochemical process that involves all aspects of the cell from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. Apoptosis stimuli are mediated by many different cellular processes including protein synthesis and degradation, the alteration in protein phosphorylation states, the activation of lipid second messenger systems, and disruption of normal mitochondrial function. Despite this diversity in signal transduction, all apoptotic pathways are believed to converge ultimately with the activation of caspases leading to the characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis. In this review, we discuss what is known about these pathways and its implication for normal cellular function.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell Death
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Apoptosis
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

