Programmed cell death in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 470
Author(s):  
M Hengartner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans

On the nature of undead cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

1991 ◽  
Vol 331 (1261) ◽  
pp. 263-271 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Synaptic Vesicles ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Morphological Differences

During the course of normal embryonic and post-embryonic development, 131 cells in a Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite undergo programmed cell death. Loss of function mutations in either of the genes ced-3 or ced-4 abolish cell deaths, enabling these ‘undead’ cells to survive and be incorporated into the adult with no obvious deleterious consequences. Ultrastructural reconstructions have shown that undead cells exhibit many differentiated characteristics. Most of the reconstructed cells appeared to be neurons with all the characteristic features associated with such cells, such as processes, synaptic vesicles and presynaptic specializations. However, clear morphological differences were seen among the undead neurons, suggesting a diversity of cell type. One of the reconstructed cells was a rectal epithelial cell, which had displaced its lineal sister that normally functions in this role. Removal of the ability to undergo programmed cell death by mutation therefore reveals a diversity of cryptic differentiated states that are acquired by cells that normally are destined to die.

Two C. elegans genes control the programmed deaths of specific cells in the pharynx

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.E. Ellis ◽  
H.R. Horvitz
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
C Elegans

The genes ces-1 and ces-2 control the decisions of two cells in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to undergo programmed cell death. Mutations that cause a gain of ces-1 function or a reduction of ces-2 function prevent these cells, the sisters of the two pharyngeal NSM neurons, from dying. These mutations do not affect most other cell deaths. Genetic studies indicate that ces-1 and ces-2 affect the fates of the NSM sisters by regulating the genes required for all programmed cell deaths to occur.

scholarly journals Genes required for the engulfment of cell corpses during programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Genetics ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Ellis ◽  
D M Jacobson ◽  
H R Horvitz
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Microscopic Studies ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Corpse ◽  
Dying Cells

Abstract After programmed cell death, a cell corpse is engulfed and quickly degraded by a neighboring cell. For degradation to occur, engulfing cells must recognize, phagocytose and digest the corpses of dying cells. Previously, three genes were known to be involved in eliminating cell corpses in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: ced-1, ced-2 and nuc-1. We have identified five new genes that play a role in this process: ced-5, ced-6, ced-7, ced-8 and ced-10. Electron microscopic studies reveal that mutations in each of these genes prevent engulfment, indicating that these genes are needed either for the recognition of corpses by other cells or for the initiation of phagocytosis. Based upon our study of double mutants, these genes can be divided into two sets. Animals with mutations in only one of these sets of genes have relatively few unengulfed cell corpses. By contrast, animals with mutations in both sets of genes have many unengulfed corpses. These observations suggest that these two sets of genes are involved in distinct and partially redundant processes that act in the engulfment of cell corpses.

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