Control of Programmed Cell Death Flashcards
What is Apoptiosis?
It is a controlled way of killing off cells within the body
How can Apoptosis be triggered?
By signals that are internal or external
What is apoptosis essential for and why?
It’ essential during development of an organism to remove cells no longer needed for development or during metamorphosis
What can initiate apoptosis?
Cells in the absence of growth factors
What is the External Death Pathway?
External death signal molecules bind to a specific surface receptor protein and trigger a protein cascade within the cytoplasm
What is the internal death pathway?
An internal death signal is generated as DNA becomes damaged. This causes activation of p53 tumour
What is p53 tumour?
It’s a suppressor protein, which leads to a protein cascade in the cytoplasm
What enzyme is activated during both death pathways?
Caspase enzyme which is a type of protease (covalent cleavage)
What causes the controlled destruction of the cell?
Caspase enzyme
