CELL DEATH

Question 1

APOPTOSIS

Answer 1

• programmed cell death that allows cells that are unneeded or unwanted to be eliminated
• important in development
• eliminating damaged cells

Question 2

CONTROL OF APOPTOSIS

Answer 2

• blocking signals

- promoting signals

Question 3

BLOCKING SIGNALS

Answer 3

promote cell survival

e.g. growth hormones

Question 4

PROMOTING SIGNALS

Answer 4

• promote cell death
• e.g. loss of survival signals, DNA damage, errors in cell division
• override survival signals
• act by switching on suicide genes

Question 5

INTRINSIC PATHWAY

Answer 5

damage within the cells

e.g. DNA damage

Question 6

EXTRINSIC PATHWAY

Answer 6

activation of external death receptors

Question 7

EXCESSIVE ACTIVITY OF APOPTOSIS

Answer 7

loss of tissue mass

e.g. alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s + AIDS

Question 8

UNDER ACTIVITY OF APOPTOSIS

Answer 8

increase of tissue mass

e.g. cancer, retinoblastoma (Rb gene mutation)

Question 9

HOW CAN CANCER EVADE APOPTOSIS?

Answer 9

• accumulate a series of genetic alterations that confer an unwarranted survival + proliferative advantage
• adopt strategies to override apoptosis