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Q&A: Cellular near death experiences-what is anastasis?
Gongping Sun1, Denise J Montell2
1Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is carried out by proteolytic enzymes called caspases. Executioner caspase activity causes cells to shrink, bleb, and disintegrate into apoptotic bodies and has been considered a point of no return for apoptotic cells. However, relatively recent work has shown that cells can survive transient apoptotic stimuli, even after executioner caspase activation. This process is called anastasis. In this Q&A, we answer common questions that arise regarding anastasis, including how it is defined, the origin of the name, the potential physiological consequences, molecular mechanisms, and open questions for this new field of study.
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