Genomic analysis of transcriptional changes underlying neuronal apoptosis

Neuronal apoptosis represents an intrinsic «suicide» program, by which a neuron orchestrates its own destruction. Although engagement of apoptosis requires transcription and protein synthesis, the complete spectrum of genes involved in distinct temporal domains remained unknown until the advent of genomics. In the last 10 years, the genome sequences and the development of high-throughput genomic technologies, such as DNA microarrays, have offered the unprecedented experimental opportunities to explore the transcriptional mechanisms underlying apoptosis from a new systems-level perspective. This review goes over this genomic approach and illustrates the use of microarray methodology to dissecting the multigenic program underlying neuronal apoptosis.