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1. • In humans, the rate of cell
growth and cell death is
balanced to maintain the
weight of the body. Mitosis Apoptosis

2. Introduction Of Apoptosis
 The word "apoptosis" comes from the
ancient Greek, meaning the:
 "falling of petals from a flower" or "of leaves
from a tree in autumn"
 In 1964 Lockshin, study on programmed cell
death. The term apoptosis (a-po-toe-sis) was
first used in a now-classic paper by Kerr et al
1972 to describe a morphologically distinct
form of cell death.

3. • Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death.
• Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes (morphology)
and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear
fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA
fragmentation.
• Between 50 and 70 billion cells die each day due to apoptosis in the
average human adult. For an average child between the ages of 8 and
14, approximately 20 billion to 30 billion cells die a day.

4. • Apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) is a mode of cell death
that occurs under normal physiological conditions and the cell is an
active participant in its own demise ("cellular suicide").
• It is important for the development of multicellular organism
(embryonic development) and homeostasis of their tissues (adult).

5. German scientist Carl Vogt was first to describe the
principle of apoptosis in 1842.
In 1972 Kerr first introduced the term apoptosis in a publication.
Kerr received the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize
on March 14, 2000, for his description of apoptosis.
History

6. The 2002 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Sydney Brenner, Horvitz and
John E. Sulston for their work identifying genes
that control apoptosis.
Sydney Brenner
Horvitz John E. Sulston

7. A
P
O
P
T
O
S
I
S

9. IMPORTANCE OF APOPTOSIS
Important in normal physiology/development
Development: Immune systems maturation, Morphogenesis, Neural development
Adult: Immune privilege, DNA damage and wound repair.
Excess apoptosis
 Neurodegenerative diseases
Deficient apoptosis
 Cancer
 Autoimmunity

10. Importance of Apoptosis
Apoptosis is a beneficial and
important phenomenon:
In embryo
1. During embryonic development,
help to digit formation.
Lack of apoptosis in humans can lead
to webbed fingers called
"syndactyly".

11. Morphogenesis
(elimination excess cells)
Selection
(elimination non-
functional cells)
Apoptosis
Important in
embryogenesis

12. Organ size
Elimination
Excess Cells
Immunity
Elimination
dangerous
Cells
Self antigen
Recognizing cell

14.  Normal cell turn over
 Tissue homeostasis
 Induction and maintenance of immune tolerance
 Development of the nervous system
 Endocrine-dependent tissue atrophy
 Elimination of activated, damaged and abnormal cells
In adult

15. Mechanism of cell death
Apoptosis = “normal” or “programmed” cell death
Apoptosis is the physiological cell death which unwanted or useless cells are
eliminated during development and other normal biological processes.
Necrosis “accidental” or “ordinary” cell death
Necrosis is the pathological cell death which occurs when cells are exposed to a
serious physical or chemical insult (hypoxia, hyperthermia, ischemia).

16. Necrosis Apoptosis
Accidental /Premature cell death and
it is not programed.
Programmed cell death
Energy independent cell death. Energy dependent cell death
It occur when Cell are exposed to
harmful chemical or physical
agents/conditions.
Unwanted cell get eliminated by biological process.
Necrotic events: cell swell, rupture,
affects surrounding cells too.
Apoptotic events: cells become more compact, blebbing
of membrane, chromatin condensation, DNA
Fragmentation, cell shrink, release of apoptotic bodies.
They are inflammatory. Phagocytes involved.
Two form of cell death

17. Apoptosis VS Necrosis
Necrosis
1) Cellular swelling
2) Membranes are broken
3) ATP is depleted
4) Cell lyses, eliciting an
inflammatory reaction
5) DNA fragmentation is random, or
smeared
6) In vivo, whole areas of the tissue
are affected Apoptosis
Apoptosis
1) Cellular condensation
2) Membranes remain intact
3) Requires ATP
4) Cell is phagocytosed, no tissue
reaction
5) Ladder-like DNA fragmentation
6) In vivo, individual cells appear
affected

18. Apoptosis
VS
Necrosis

19. 1) Cell shrinkage
2) Organelle reduction
3) Mitochondrial leakage
4) Chromatin condensation
5) Nuclear fragmentation
6) Membrane blebbing & changes
Apoptosis- Morphological
Changes

20. Apoptosis-Biochemical changes
1)Chromosomal DNA cleaved into fragments
2)Change in the plasma membrane – phosphatidylserine In the outer leaflet
3)Loss of electrical potential across the inner membrane of the mitochondria
4)Relocation of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space of the
mitochondria to the cytosol
Characteristic biochemical changes in cells undergoing apoptosis

21. Regulation Of Apoptosis
1.Anti-apoptotic factors
2.Pro-apoptotic factors
Example- BCI2 family proteins.

22. BCl2 Family
Protein
Anti-Apoptotic
Factor
BCl2, BCl-XL
Pro-Apoptotic
Factor
Bax, Bad, Bik, Bim,
PUMA, NOXA

23. What are caspases?
Types of caspases
How caspases activates?
Role in apoptosis/importance
What happen in the absence of
caspases?
Evolution Of Caspase over time

24. What are
caspases?
Caspases (Cysteine dependent
aspartate specific protease)
family of protease enzymes.
Contain cysteine residue in the catalytic
site and selectively cleave proteins at a
C-terminal of aspartate.
More than 12 caspases are
identified
1
2
3
4

25. Caspases
Caspases Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteases
A family of intracellular cysteine proteases
that play a pivotal role in the initiation and
execution of apoptosis.
At least 14 different members of caspases in
mammalian cells have been identified
All are synthesized as inactive proenzymes
(zymogen) with 32-56 kDa

26. Small subunit
(10-13 kDa)
Large subunit
(17-21 kDa)
Prodomain
(2-25 kDa)
Asp-X Asp-X
QACXG
32-56 kDa
Effector caspases
Initiator caspases
Caspase-2
Caspase-8
Caspase-9
Caspase-10
Caspase-12
Caspase-3
Caspase-6
Caspase-7
Active Caspase
C
N
Caspase structure

27. Caspase subgroups
To date, ten major caspases have been
identified and broadly categorized into:
Signaling or Initiator
caspases (2, 8, 9, 10)
Effector or Executioner
caspases (3, 6, 7)
Inflammatory
caspases (1, 4, 5)
 The other caspases that have been identified
include: Caspases 11, 12, 13, 14
 Central role in cascade of apoptotic events is played by caspase 3 (CPP32)

28. TYPES OF CASPASES
Initiator caspases
• Caspase-2, 8, 9, 10
• Self activating by
autocatalysis
EFFECTOR/ EXECUTIONERS
Caspase-3, 6, 7
Activated by initiator
caspases.

29. How caspases activates?
• Caspases are synthesized as inactive
zymogens /pro-caspases that are only
activated following an appropriate stimulus
• This post-translational level of control allows
rapid and tight regulation of the enzyme.
Pro-caspase split into small and large subunits
that form a heterodimer and two such dimers
assembles to form the active tetramer.

30. Role in apoptosis/importance
Extrinsic pathway of
apoptosis
Granzyme B pathway.
Intrinsic pathway of
apoptosis

31. What happen in the absence of caspases?
 Caspase deficiency has been identified as a cause of tumour development.
 Tumour growth can occur by a combination of factors, including a mutation in
a cell cycle gene and in apoptotic proteins such as Caspases.
Evolution Of Caspase
 In animals apoptosis is induced by caspases and in fungi and plants, apoptosis
is induced by arginine and lysine-specific caspase like proteases called
metacaspases

32. Recent studies on caspases
1. Over activation of caspase-3 can lead to excessive
programmed cell death.
2. Over activation of caspase-3 playing role in causing
Alzheimer's disease.
3. Inflammatory caspases- caspase-1, 4, 5, 11, 12

33. APOPTOSIS IN
C. elegans
( Nematodes)
 Four genes whose encoded proteins play an essential role in controlling programmed cell
death during C. elegans development: ced-3, ced-4, ced-9, and egl-1.
 The human Bcl-2 protein and worm CED-9 protein are homologous; even though the two
proteins are only 23 percent identical in sequence
 The first mammalian apoptotic gene to be cloned, bcl-2.
 Bcl-2 gene can block the extensive cell death found in ced-9 mutant worms. Thus both
proteins act as regulators that suppress the apoptotic pathway.

38. INHIBITORS OF APOPTOSIS(IAPs)
• Inhibitors of Apoptosis Proteins (IAPs) are a class of highly conserved proteins
known for the regulation of caspases and immune signaling.
• Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), also known as BIRCS (BIR domain
containing proteins) are a class of proteins characterized by the presence of
Baculovirus IAP Repeat (BIR) domain, a Zn²+ ion coordinating protein-protein
interaction motif.
• They are highly conserved from viruses to mammals.

39. • Yeasts and plants undergo a form of programmed cell death
(PCD) by caspase homologs known as metacaspases.
• Yet no IAP homologs are found in prokaryotes and plants.
• In Yeast the known IAP is BIR1p.
• There are eight known mammalian IAPS/BIRCS
INHIBITORS OF APOPTOSIS(IAPs)

40. • There are eight known mammalian IAPS/BIRCS
1. BIRC1 (neuronal IAP/NAIP),
2. BIRC2 (cellular IAP1/clAP1),
3. BIRC3 (cellular IAP2/clAP2),
4. BIRC4 (X-linked IAP/XIAP),
5. BIRC5
6. BIRC6
7. BIRC7 (Melanoma IAP/ML-IAP)and
8. BIRC8 (IAP-like protein 2).
They function by blocking
caspase-3, -7, and -9

41. • Induction of apoptosis in Drosophila requires the activity of three
closely linked genes, reaper, hid and grim.
• proteins encoded by reaper, hid and grim activate cell death by
inhibiting the anti-apoptotic activity of the Drosophila IAP1 (diap1)
protein.
• Gain-of-function mutations in diap1 strongly suppressed reaper hid-
and grim-so no apoptosis.
Anti- IAPs in Drosophila

42. Apoptosis pathways
Extrinsic pathway (death receptor-mediated events)
Death trigger signal from extracellular stimulus and they require the
receptor for receiving the signal.
Intrinsic pathway (mitochondria-mediated events)
Internal damage, So they don’t require Receptor.

44. Reason behind extrinsic response
• The extrinsic pathway triggers apoptosis in response to external
stimuli, namely by ligand binding at ‘death’ receptors on the cell
Surface.
• These receptors are typically members of the Tumour Necrosis Factor
Receptor (TNFR) gene family, such as TNFR1 or FAS. Binding at these
receptors leads to receptor molecules grouping up on the cell surface
to initiate downstream caspase activation

45. Components:
Death
Receptors
Death
Ligands
Adaptor
Proteins
Caspaseses

46. Death Receptors
"Death receptors" that are members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
receptor superfamily.
• Death receptors have a cytoplasmic domain of about 80 amino acids
called the "death domain".
• This death domain plays a critical role in transmitting the death signal
from the cell surface to the intracellular signaling pathways.

47. Receptor Ligand
FasR (CD95/APOI)
DR3
DR4 (TRAIL-RI)
DRS (TRAIL-R2)
TNFRI
TNFR2
Fasl.
Apo3L
Apo21
Apo2L
TNF-α
TNF-β
The best characterized
receptors & ligands
corresponding Death
receptors include:

48. Adaptor proteins
Apoptotic adaptor proteins play a critical role in regulating pro-
and anti-apoptotic signalling pathways
1)FADD (Fas-associated death domain)
2) TRADD (TNF receptor-associated death domain), are
recruited to ligand-activated, oligomerized death receptors to
mediate apoptotic signalling pathways.

49. Two theories of the direct initiation of apoptotic mechanisms in
mammals have been suggested: the TNF-induced (tumor
necrosis factor) model and the Fas-Fas ligand-mediated model,
both involving receptors of the TNF receptor (TNFR) family
coupled to extrinsic signals.
EXTRINSIC PATHWAY

50. Killer lymphocytes
Caspase 8
Caspase 3
Death
domain
FAS receptor
Disc
Extracellular signal
Ligand and receptor binding
FADD recruitment
Activation of procaspase 8
Disc formation
Activation of executioner caspase
Apoptosis of target cell
Ligand- Cytokines, TNF, FAS Ligand
Receptors-Cytokines receptors, TNF receptors etc

51. Extrinsic
Pathway of
Apoptosis

53. INTRINSIC PATHWAY/•CASPASE-DEPENDENT
INTRINSIC PATHWAY/•MITOCHONDIAL APOPTOSIS
REASON OF INTRENSIC PATHWAY
Intracellular death signal like DNA damage, Biochemical stress, ROS
generation, oncogenic stress, Virus attack or Lack of growth factors.
Component
• Bcl-2 family proteins
• Cytochrome c
• Apoptosome
• Caspaseses

54.  The control & regulation of apoptotic mitochondrial events occurs
through members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins
 Anti-apoptotic proteins include Bcl-2, Bcl-x, Bcl-XL, Bel-w Pro-
apoptotic proteins include Bax, Bak, Bid, Bad, Bim, Bik
 The main mechanism of action of the Bcl-2 family of proteins is the
regulation of cytochrome c release from the mitochondria via
alteration of mitochondrial membrane permeability.

55. BH4 BH3 BH1 BH2 TM
Bcl-2
Bax
Bid
Bik
GROUP I
GROUP II
GROUP III
Group I- Bcl-2 and bcl-xl possess anti apoptotic activity
Group II and III- Bax and Bid , Bak possess pro apoptotic activity
Bcl2 Homology (BH) domains of Bcl-2 Protein

57. Intrinsic Pathway
 The stimuli that initiate the intrinsic pathway produce intracellular signals such as radiation (DNA
damage), absence of certain growth factors, hormones and cytokines.
 All of these stimuli cause changes in the mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP)
 Release of pro-apoptotic proteins such as cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO, AIF, endonuclease
G and CAD from the intermembrane space into the cytosol. Cytochrome c binds and activates Apaf-1 as
well as procaspase-9, forming an "apoptosome Caspase-9 activation, subsequent caspase-3 activation
and cell death.

58. • Internal damage signal
• Inhibition of anti apoptotic
protein
• Oligomerization of Bax/Bak
• Mitochondrial changes/channel
formation of bak or bax
• Cytochrome C release
• Activation of Apaf-1
• Apoptosome formation
• Caspase 9 activation
• Caspase 3 activation

59. Apoptosis assay methods
1. Cytomorphological alterations
2. DNA fragmentation
3. Detection of caspases, cleaved Substrates, regulators and inhibitors
4. Membrane alterations
5. Detection of apoptosis in whole mounts
6. Mitochondrial assays
Apoptosis assays, based on methodology, can be classified into six
Major groups:

60. 1) Cytomorphological Alterations
• The evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections with light
microscopy does allow the visualization of apoptotic cells.
• This method detects the later events of apoptosis
• TEM is considered the
gold standard to
confirm apoptosis:
Electron-dense nucleus
Nuclear fragmentation
Disorganized
cytoplasmic organelles
Large clear Vacuoles
Intact cell membrane
Blebs at the cell
surface

61. DNA Fragmentation
 DNA fragmentation occurs in the later phase of apoptosis.
 TUNEL (Terminal dUTP Nick End-Labeling) assay quantified The incorporation
of deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) at single and double stranded DNA
breaks in a reaction catalyzed by the template independent enzyme,
terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT).
 Incorporated dUTP is labeled such that breaks can be quantified either by
flowcytometry, fluorescent microscopy, or light

63. Membrane Alterations
• During the process of apoptosis, one of the earliest events is Externalization
of Phosphatidylserine (PS) from the inner to the outer plasma membrane of
apoptotic cells.
• These cells can be demonstrated by bound with Fluorescein isothiocyanate
(FITC)-labeled Annexin V and detected with Fluorescent microscopy.
• The vital dye propidium iodide (PI) should be used in combination of annexin
V that help in distinguish viable, apoptotic & necrotic cell populations at the
same time.

64.  Mitochondrial assays and cytochrome c release allow the detection of
changes in the early phase of the intrinsic pathway.
 The mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) collapses during apoptosis,
allowing detection with a fluorescent cationic dye.
 Cytochrome e release from the mitochondria can also be assayed using
fluorescence and electron microscopy in living or fixed cells.
 Apoptotic or anti-apoptotic regulator proteins such as Bax, Bid, and Bcl-2 can
also be detected using fluorescence and confocal microscopy

65. BCL2 inhibitors;
1)G3139 is an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting BCL2 mRNA
resulting in RNAse H activation.
2)ABT263 is a small molecule mimetic of the BH3 domain of the pro-
apoptotic BAD protein that is currently in clinical trial in chronic
lymphatic leukaemia.

66. 1) VX-765 is an orally active, reversible caspase-1 inhibitor that was being developed for the
treatment of inflammatory disorders.
2) Emricasan is a novel, irreversible, orally active pan-caspase inhibitor that has been
investigated for the treatment of chronic HCV infection and liver transplantation rejection.
3) NCX-1000, a small-molecule inhibitor that selectively inhibits caspase-3, -8 and -9 in the
micromolar range, was in phase II clinical trials for the treatment of chronic liver disease.
4) PAC-1, a small molecule that induces both procaspase-3 activation in vitro and apoptosis in
several cancer cell lines