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Vampiric Isolation of Extracellular Fluid from Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: March 19, 2012
Engulfment genes cooperate with ced-3 to promote cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans
D J Hoeppner1, M O Hengartner, R Schnabel
1Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724, USA.
Abstract:
Genetic studies have identified over a dozen genes that function in programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Although the ultimate effects on cell survival or engulfment of mutations in each cell death gene have been extensively described, much less is known about how these mutations affect the kinetics of death and engulfment, or the interactions between these two processes. We have used four-dimensional-Nomarski time-lapse video microscopy to follow in detail how cell death genes regulate the extent and kinetics of apoptotic cell death and removal in the early C. elegans embryo. Here we show that blocking engulfment enhances cell survival when cells are subjected to weak pro-apoptotic signals. Thus, genes that mediate corpse removal can also function to actively kill cells.
Insights
Blocking the removal of dead cells (engulfment) can enhance cell survival when apoptotic signals are weak. This suggests that genes involved in corpse removal may also play active roles in cell killing processes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Over a dozen genes regulating programmed cell death (apoptosis) have been identified in *Caenorhabditis elegans*.
- While the ultimate outcomes of mutations in these cell death genes are known, their effects on the kinetics of death and engulfment, and their interactions, are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cell death genes regulate the kinetics and extent of apoptotic cell death and removal in early *C. elegans* embryos.
- To explore the interplay between cell death and cell corpse engulfment processes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized four-dimensional-Nomarski time-lapse video microscopy.
- Detailed observation of apoptotic cell death and removal dynamics in *C. elegans* embryos.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that impaired engulfment enhances cell survival under weak pro-apoptotic stimuli.
- Identified a novel role for corpse removal genes in actively promoting cell death.
Conclusions:
- Genes mediating corpse removal can also actively contribute to cell killing.
- The kinetics of apoptosis and engulfment are intricately linked and influence cell fate decisions.
