Apoptotic Pathways

Caspases are a family of enzymes that play a central role in apoptosis, the programmed cell death process. They act as proteases, cleaving specific cellular proteins and leading to the dismantling and degradation of the cell. Caspases are typically activated in response to various signals and are involved in maintaining tissue homeostasis and eliminating damaged … Read more

Cellular necrosis refers to the premature death of cells due to irreversible damage or injury. It is characterized by cell swelling, membrane rupture, and the release of cellular contents into the surrounding tissue, triggering inflammation. Necrosis differs from programmed cell death (apoptosis) and can be caused by various factors, including infection, toxins, or lack of … Read more

The extrinsic pathway of apoptosis is an external stimuli induced signaling mechanism that initiates programmed cell death. It involves the binding of death ligands, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or Fas ligand, to death receptors on the cell surface. This binding activates caspase enzymes, leading to the activation of downstream apoptotic processes, including DNA … Read more

The intrinsic pathway of apoptosis is an internal cellular process triggered by various signals, such as DNA damage or cellular stress. It involves the release of mitochondrial proteins, including cytochrome c, which activate caspase enzymes. Caspases then initiate a cascade of events leading to programmed cell death, including DNA fragmentation and cell membrane blebbing. This … Read more