Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
Published on: February 16, 2015
DNA degradation and proteolysis in thymocyte apoptosis
H O Fearnhead1, M MacFarlane, D Dinsdale
1MRC Toxicology Unit, University of Leicester, UK.
Abstract:
Data from a number of model systems support a role for proteolysis in apoptotic cell death. Using immature rat thymocytes, we demonstrate that the protease inhibitors N-alpha-tosyl-L-lysinyl-chloromethylketone (TLCK) and benzyloxycarbonyl-valinyl-alaninyl-aspartyl fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD.FMK) inhibit apoptosis. N-tosyl-L-phenylalaninyl-chloromethylketone (TPCK) has a very different effect, inducing the early morphological and biochemical changes associated with apoptosis. TLCK inhibits trypsin-like proteases whilst Z-VAD.FMK inhibits interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE)-like proteases; this and the contrasting effects of TPCK support the hypothesis that thymocyte apoptosis involves a hierarchy of proteases which act at different stages of the process.
Related Concept Videos
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Overview of Cell Death
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...
Apoptosis
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

