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[Is apoptosis a "programmed cell death"?]
1Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophisics, Russian Academy of Science, Pushchino.
Radiatsionnaia Biologiia, Radioecologiia
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Apoptosis is not always programmed cell death (PCD). DNA fragmentation and protein synthesis are not required for apoptotic cell death, challenging the PCD definition. PCD is best defined as organism-level genetically determined removal processes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Context:
- Apoptosis is widely considered programmed cell death (PCD), often linked to DNA fragmentation and protein synthesis.
- Existing definitions of PCD rely on specific molecular and genetic markers that may not universally apply to all apoptotic events.
Purpose:
- To critically evaluate the definition of programmed cell death (PCD) in the context of apoptosis.
- To reassess the necessity of DNA fragmentation, protein synthesis, and gene expression in apoptotic cell death.
Summary:
- Analysis of literature data suggests that internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and protein/RNA synthesis are not essential triggers or proofs of apoptotic cell death.
- The term programmed cell death (PCD) should be reserved for genetically determined developmental processes at the organism level.
- Apoptotic cell death processes are proposed to be driven by conformational genome changes resulting from altered cellular environments due to damaging agents.
Impact:
- Challenges the conventional understanding of apoptosis as universally programmed cell death (PCD).
- Suggests a re-evaluation of the criteria used to define PCD.
- Proposes a new model where environmental changes influencing cellular membranes dictate apoptotic pathways.