apoptosis

Definition

Apoptosis is a highly regulated form of programmed cell death essential for normal development, tissue homeostasis, and immune function. Unlike necrosis, apoptosis proceeds through orchestrated biochemical pathways involving caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and membrane blebbing without triggering inflammation. The process can be initiated through intrinsic pathways (mitochondrial-mediated, responding to cellular stress) or extrinsic pathways (death receptor-mediated, responding to external signals). Key regulators include the BCL-2 family proteins, cytochrome c, and executioner caspases. Dysregulation of apoptosis contributes to cancer (insufficient apoptosis), neurodegenerative diseases (excessive apoptosis), and autoimmune disorders, making it a critical therapeutic target.

Visualize apoptosis in Nodes Bio

Researchers can map apoptotic signaling cascades as interconnected networks, visualizing how death receptor ligands, adaptor proteins, and caspase cascades interact. Nodes Bio enables analysis of crosstalk between intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, identification of key regulatory nodes like BCL-2 family members, and exploration of how drug candidates modulate apoptotic networks in disease contexts.

Example Use Case

An oncology research team investigating resistance to chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer uses network analysis to map apoptotic pathway alterations. They discover that resistant cell lines overexpress BCL-2 and MCL-1 anti-apoptotic proteins while downregulating BAX and BAK pro-apoptotic effectors. By visualizing these molecular interactions alongside drug target networks, they identify combination therapy opportunities using BCL-2 inhibitors with standard chemotherapy to restore apoptotic sensitivity in resistant tumors.

Related Terms