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Apoptosis

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size...

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes.
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Multimodal Hierarchical Imaging of Serial Sections for Finding Specific Cellular Targets within Large Volumes

Multimodal Hierarchical Imaging of Serial Sections for Finding Specific Cellular Targets within Large Volumes

Published on: March 20, 2018

The apoptosome at high resolution.

Xinchen Teng¹, J Marie Hardwick

¹Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.

|May 4, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A new crystal structure of the apoptosome from C. elegans reveals a funnel shape, challenging previous models of human apoptosome structure and caspase activation during apoptosis.

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Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Multimodal Hierarchical Imaging of Serial Sections for Finding Specific Cellular Targets within Large Volumes

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Published on: March 20, 2018

Quantification of Efferocytosis by Single-cell Fluorescence Microscopy

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Published on: August 18, 2018

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

Published on: August 12, 2018

Area of Science:

Cellular biology
Molecular biology
Structural biology

Background:

The precise mechanism of caspase activation by the apoptosome during apoptosis remains debated.
Previous models of human apoptosome structure have been based on limited data.

Discussion:

Qi et al. present a crystal structure of an octameric apoptosome complex from C. elegans.
The observed funnel shape of the C. elegans apoptosome contrasts with existing assumptions about human apoptosome architecture.

Key Insights:

The study reveals a novel, funnel-shaped octameric apoptosome complex in C. elegans.
This structure challenges established models of the human apoptosome and its role in caspase activation.

Outlook:

Further structural and functional studies are needed to fully elucidate apoptosome mechanisms.
Comparative analysis of nematode and human apoptosome structures may offer new insights into apoptosis regulation.