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Control of Cell Death definitions

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  • Apoptosis
    A regulated, programmed process where a cell self-destructs in a controlled manner, preventing harm to neighboring cells.
  • Necrosis
    A form of traumatic cell death resulting from injury or disease, characterized by uncontrolled cell rupture and inflammation.
  • Caspase
    A family of protease enzymes that orchestrate cellular breakdown during programmed cell death by cleaving key cellular components.
  • Initiator Caspase
    A protein that begins the cascade of events in programmed cell death by activating other proteases involved in cellular dismantling.
  • Executioner Caspase
    A protease responsible for degrading cellular structures, directly leading to the physical breakdown of the cell.
  • Pro-caspase
    An inactive precursor of a protease that requires cleavage to become active and participate in cell death processes.
  • Blebbing
    The formation of bulging protrusions on the cell surface, marking the early stages of cellular fragmentation during death.
  • Apoptotic Body
    A membrane-bound vesicle containing cellular fragments, formed during the final stages of programmed cell death.
  • Intrinsic Pathway
    A cell death route triggered by internal signals, often involving mitochondrial damage and release of specific proteins.
  • Extrinsic Pathway
    A cell death route initiated by external signals, typically involving immune cell interactions and activation of surface receptors.
  • Cytochrome c
    A mitochondrial protein released into the cytosol upon cellular stress, initiating the cascade leading to cell death.
  • Bcl-2 Family
    A group of proteins that regulate cell death by either promoting or inhibiting the release of mitochondrial factors.
  • Death Receptor
    A plasma membrane protein that, upon ligand binding, triggers the assembly of signaling complexes to initiate cell death.
  • Death-Inducing Signaling Complex
    A multiprotein assembly formed at the cell surface that activates proteases to execute programmed cell death.
  • Inhibitor of Apoptosis
    A molecule that prevents unwanted cell death by blocking the activation or function of proteases involved in apoptosis.