Apoptosis

• Apoptosis


  The programmed death of cells that occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development.
• Apoptosome


  A large protein formed during apoptosis; its formation triggers a series of events that leads to apoptosis.
• Apoptotic Body


  Vesicle containing parts of a dying cell.
• Blebs


  Bulges of the cell membrane created as the cytoskeleton of the cell breaks down; these break off to form apoptotic bodies.
• Caspases


  Protease enzymes that break down proteins during apoptosis.
• Caspase Cascade


  A group of proteins that are sequentially activated to bring about apoptosis.
• Death Receptor


  Receptors on cell surface that, when activated, lead to apoptosis of the cell.
• Extrinsic Pathway


  When molecules from outside the cell bind to a death receptor in the membrane, to initiate apoptosis.
• Intrinsic Pathway


  Also known as mitochondrial pathway, cell recognises it is too damaged to be fixed so apoptosis begins.