Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell Death01:30

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...
Apoptosis01:30

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 Death01:18

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...
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

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...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tissue turnover and rejuvenation through mechanics.

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology·2026
Same author

Surface mechanics and compressive stress impact mammalian follicle development.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Beyond the sheath: unmasking true predictors of Post-fURS fever through propensitymatched precision.

World journal of urology·2025
Same author

Causal Relationship between Gut Microbiota and Pulmonary Embolism: An Analysis Using Mendelian Randomization.

Polish journal of microbiology·2025
Same author

ARHGAP12 suppresses F-actin assembly to control epithelial tight junction mechanics and paracellular leak pathway permeability.

Cell reports·2025
Same author

Astrocytes control quiescent NSC reactivation via GPCR signaling-mediated F-actin remodeling.

Science advances·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

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

Published on: December 27, 2016

Apoptotic force: active mechanical function of cell death during morphogenesis.

Xiang Teng1, Yusuke Toyama

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, Singapore.

Development, Growth & Differentiation
|February 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, exerts an active mechanical force. This apoptotic force aids tissue fusion and cell rearrangement during development, suggesting a new role for cell death in morphogenesis.

More Related Videos

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis
08:59

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Published on: August 18, 2013

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions
06:37

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions

Published on: June 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
09:18

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

Published on: December 27, 2016

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis
08:59

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Published on: August 18, 2013

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions
06:37

Protrusion Force Microscopy: A Method to Quantify Forces Developed by Cell Protrusions

Published on: June 16, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is crucial for development and tissue homeostasis.
  • Recent studies reveal apoptosis generates mechanical force, termed apoptotic force.
  • This force influences tissue dynamics and cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize current understanding of the mechanical function of apoptosis.
  • To explore the role of apoptotic force in developmental processes.
  • To highlight the implications of apoptotic force for morphogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on apoptosis and its mechanical functions.
  • Analysis of studies demonstrating apoptotic force in embryonic development (e.g., Drosophila).
  • Discussion of correlative evidence linking apoptosis to tissue movement and tension.

Main Results:

  • Apoptotic force actively removes dying cells, maintaining tissue integrity.
  • Dying cells induce morphological changes in neighboring cells to fill vacated space.
  • Apoptosis occurrence correlates with tissue tension and movement.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptotic force plays a significant mechanical role in cell death-related morphogenesis.
  • This active mechanical function necessitates a re-evaluation of programmed cell death's role.
  • Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms and scope of apoptotic force in development.