Non-developmentally programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Semin Cancer Biol
; 17(2): 122-33, 2007 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17196824
ABSTRACT
The simple nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans has played a pivotal role in deciphering the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis. Precisely 131 somatic cells undergo programmed apoptotic death during development to contour the 959-cell adult organism. In addition to developmental cell death, specific genetic manipulations and extrinsic factors can trigger non-programmed cell death that is morphologically and mechanistically distinct from apoptosis. Here, we survey paradigms of cell death that is not developmentally programmed in C. elegans and review the molecular mechanisms involved. Furthermore, we consider the potential of the nematode as a platform to investigate pathological cell death. The striking extent of conservation between apoptotic pathways in worms and higher organisms including humans, holds promise that similarly, studies of non-programmed cell death in C. elegans will yield significant new insights, highly relevant to human pathology.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Caenorhabditis elegans
/
Apoptose
/
Proteínas de Caenorhabditis elegans
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article