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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...

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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...

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Apoptosis

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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

DARK apoptosome secrets come to light.

Chu-Chiao Wu¹, Shawn B Bratton

¹Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.

Structure (London, England : 1993)

|January 12, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers reconstituted an active Drosophila apoptosome using biochemical methods. Cryo-electron microscopy provided an improved model of this essential caspase-activating complex, advancing cell death research.

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Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

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Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis

Published on: February 16, 2015

Detection and Isolation of Apoptotic Bodies to High Purity

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Published on: August 12, 2018

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death

Published on: December 27, 2016

Area of Science:

Structural biology
Molecular mechanisms of cell death

Background:

The apoptosome is a critical protein complex that initiates apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Understanding its structure and function is key to deciphering cell death pathways.

Discussion:

Biochemical reconstitution allowed for the study of a functional Drosophila apoptosome.
Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) enabled high-resolution structural analysis.

Key Insights:

An active Drosophila apoptosome was successfully reconstituted in vitro.
A refined structural model of the apoptosome was generated, revealing new details about its architecture.
This work enhances our understanding of caspase activation during apoptosis.

Outlook:

Further structural studies could elucidate dynamic aspects of apoptosome assembly and activation.
The reconstituted system may serve as a platform for drug discovery targeting apoptosis.