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Apoptosis: Biology and Mechanisms pp 11–24Cite as

Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis: An Overview

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Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 23))

Abstract

Apoptosis (physiological cell death) has a central role in the normal development and homeostastis of all multicellular organisms. It is also used by the body’s defence system to eliminate dangerous cells, such as those that are mutated or are harbouring viruses. Deregulation of this process, resulting in either too much or too little cell death, can cause both developmental defects and a wide variety of disease states. Much of our understanding of apoptosis has come from genetic studies in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Although the mechanisms of apoptosis are highly conserved, regulation of apoptosis in higher species is more complicated and involves several large families of proteins. In this chapter we will provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms of physiological cell death.

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  1. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Post Office Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia

    Anne M. Verhagen & David L. Vaux

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  1. Anne M. Verhagen
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  2. David L. Vaux
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  1. Hanson Centre for Cancer Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Rundle Mall, P.O. Box 14, 5000, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Sharad Kumar

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Verhagen, A.M., Vaux, D.L. (1999). Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis: An Overview. In: Kumar, S. (eds) Apoptosis: Biology and Mechanisms. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69184-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-69184-6_2

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