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[Selective "death programs" or pleiotropic"life programs"? Looking for programmed cell death in the light of
1Unité INSERM E9922, faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, 16, rue Henri Huchard, 75780 Paris Cedex 18. ameisen.jc@gmail.com
Journal De La Societe De Biologie
|February 14, 2006
Summary
Evolutionary context reveals programmed cell death evolved from ancestral single-celled organisms. Molecular tools for cell suicide initially had dual roles in life and death, explaining current complexities in multicellular organisms.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Programmed cell death is a vital genetically regulated process for multicellular organisms.
- Dysregulation of cell death contributes to various diseases.
- Recent findings reveal complexity in cell death pathways and dual roles of molecular effectors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate programmed cell death mechanisms within a broad evolutionary framework.
- To propose an alternative model for the evolution of cell death pathways.
- To reconcile new findings with existing paradigms of programmed cell death.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on programmed cell death.
- Analysis of evolutionary timelines from single-celled organisms to multicellular life.
- Development of the 'original sin' hypothesis.
Main Results:
- Programmed cell death pathways likely evolved from ancestral single-celled organisms.
- Molecular effectors of cell death may possess ancestral pleiotropic functions (dual roles).
- The 'original sin' hypothesis suggests initial involvement in both life and death processes.
Conclusions:
- A broader evolutionary perspective is necessary to understand cell death complexity.
- The 'original sin' hypothesis offers a framework reconciling diverse findings.
- Ancestral pleiotropy of cell death tools facilitated their selection and propagation across species.