Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

12:44
Use of LysoTracker to Detect Programmed Cell Death in Embryos and Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells
Published on: October 11, 2012
Systems biology analysis of programmed cell death.
Shani Bialik1, Einat Zalckvar, Yaara Ber
1Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel 76100.
Trends in Biochemical Sciences
|June 12, 2010
Summary
Systems biology enhances the study of programmed cell death, revealing multiple death pathways beyond apoptosis. This research offers crucial insights for developing new drug targets in cell death research.
Area of Science:
- Systems biology
- Cellular biology
- Computational biology
Background:
- Programmed cell death research has traditionally focused on apoptosis.
- Recent advances reveal a broader network of cell death pathways, including programmed necrosis and autophagic cell death.
- Understanding complex biological systems requires integrated computational and experimental approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply systems biology approaches to understand programmed cell death pathways.
- To investigate the interconnectivity among various cell death modules.
- To identify potential drug targets for diseases involving cell death.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a combined computational and experimental approach.
- Analyzing complex biological systems and regulatory pathways.
- Quantitative analysis of subprocesses within individual death pathways.
Main Results:
- An expanded view of cell death regulation, incorporating multiple death programs.
- Initial studies provide significant advances in understanding programmed cell death.
- Identification of key interconnections within the larger cell death network.
Conclusions:
- Systems biology is crucial for deciphering complex cell death networks.
- Understanding these networks has significant clinical implications for drug target discovery.
- Further research in systems biology will advance the field of programmed cell death.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Cell Death
Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
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...
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...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
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 reduction of the tissue.
Autophagic Cell Death
Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle regulation directs how a cell proceeds from one phase to the next and begins mitosis. The cell cycle control system includes intracellular regulatory molecules and external triggers. They provide "stop" or "advance" signals and operate at specific cell cycle stages termed checkpoints to ensure that a particular process is completed before the cell advances to the next phase.
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
Cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are the primary cell cycle regulators and function at the cell...
The Cell Cycle Control System
The cell cycle is an organized set of events that leads the cell to divide into two daughter cells, each containing chromosomes identical to the parent cell. It is the cell cycle that leads to the formation of an entire organism from a single-cell zygote. Besides, cell division also functions in the renewal or repair of tissues in adult multicellular eukaryotes. For example, in the bone marrow, the stem cells divide to form new blood cells. Although essential for several functions, cell...

