apoptosis

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death characterized by orderly processes such as chromatin condensation, membrane blebbing, and DNA degradation.

Antagonistic Pleiotropy

A situation where at least one trait is beneficial and another is detrimental to the organism’s fitness, often discussed in relation to aging.

Caspases

Proteases central to apoptosis that are synthesized as inactive precursors and activated to cut substrates at aspartate residues.

Necrosis

Unprogrammed, disorderly cell death that involves cell swelling and the release of harmful chemicals leading to inflammation.

Autophagy

A cellular process of degradation of macromolecules and organelles through lysosomal action, often seen as a survival mechanism.

Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptosis

An intrinsic apoptotic pathway activated by cellular stress and characterized by mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and cytochrome c release.

Extrinsic Pathway

An apoptotic pathway that involves the binding of ligands to death receptors, triggering a cascading effect that leads to apoptosis.

Bcl-2 Family Proteins

A group of proteins that regulate apoptosis, containing both anti-apoptotic members like Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic members.

Flow Cytometry

A technique used to detect and measure the physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles.

Annexin V

A phospholipid-binding protein used as a marker in flow cytometry to identify apoptotic cells by binding to phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of the cell membrane.

Death Receptor

Members of the TNF receptor superfamily that contain a death domain and mediate cell death signaling, such as TNFR1 and Fas.

p53

A tumor suppressor protein that can activate apoptosis by inducing the expression of various pro-apoptotic genes.

DAMPs (Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns)

Signals released by damaged cells that can trigger inflammatory responses in other cells.

BH3 Mimetic

Compounds that mimic the BH3 domain of pro-apoptotic proteins and disrupt interactions with anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, potentially triggering apoptosis.

Caspase Cascade

A series of proteolytic activations involving caspases that lead to the execution phase of apoptosis.

Cytochrome c

A molecule released from the mitochondria that activates the apoptosome leading to the initiation of the caspase cascade.

TNFα (Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha)

A multifunctional cytokine involved in inflammation and apoptosis, playing significant roles in immunity and cancer progression.

FACS (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting)

A specialized type of flow cytometry that sorts a heterogeneous mixture of biological cells into two or more containers, based on specific characteristics.

Phagocytosis

The process by which certain cells, like macrophages, engulf and neutralize apoptotic cells, usually without triggering an inflammatory response.

Cytotoxic Drugs

Agents that induce apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway by altering the balance of pro- and anti-apoptotic signals.