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Related Concept Videos

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

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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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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.
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Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

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Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
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The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

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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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Negative Regulator Molecules01:23

Negative Regulator Molecules

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Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
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Caspases01:24

Caspases

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Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside...
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Viewing BCL2 and cell death control from an evolutionary perspective.

Andreas Strasser1,2, David L Vaux1,2

  • 1The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Cell Death and Differentiation
|November 4, 2017
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The BCL2 protein family regulates programmed cell death, crucial for development and disease. Research shows these proteins evolved from early defense mechanisms to control cell numbers in multicellular organisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The BCL2 protein family plays a critical role in regulating apoptosis (programmed cell death).
  • Understanding BCL2's function is key to comprehending cellular pathophysiology and its implications in human diseases.
  • Cellular self-destruction is an evolutionarily conserved process in metazoans, controlled by BCL2-related proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary origins of the BCL2 protein family.
  • To elucidate the functional diversification of BCL2-like and BH3-only proteins.
  • To understand the role of BCL2 in multicellular organism development and homeostasis.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of BCL2 family genes.
  • Phylogenetic reconstruction of BCL2 protein evolution.
  • Functional domain analysis of multi-BH domain and BH3-only proteins.

Main Results:

  • The anti-apoptotic BCL2-like and pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins likely evolved from ancestral pro-apoptotic multi-BH domain proteins via gene duplication and modification.
  • This evolutionary pathway allowed the repurposing of a primitive defense mechanism for complex biological processes.

Conclusions:

  • The BCL2 family's evolution highlights the adaptation of fundamental cellular processes for multicellular life.
  • Understanding BCL2 evolution provides insights into developmental biology and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis.
  • The study underscores the link between ancient defense mechanisms and modern physiological functions, including morphogenesis and cell number regulation.