Cell death in normal and rough eye mutants of Drosophila

Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 825-839 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Wolff ◽  
D.F. Ready
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Compound Eye ◽  
Cell Lineage ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Cone Cells ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Retinal Epithelium ◽  
Fly Eye ◽  
Dying Cells

The regular, reiterated cellular pattern of the Drosophila compound eye makes it a sensitive amplifier of defects in cell death. Quantitative and histological methods reveal a phase of cell death between 35 and 50 h of development which removes between 2 and 3 surplus cells per ommatidium. The timing of this epoch is consistent with cell death as the last fate to be specified in the progressive sequence of cell fates that build the ommatidium. An ultrastructural survey of cell death suggests dying cells in the fly eye have similarities as well as differences with standard descriptions of programmed cell death. A failure of cell death to remove surplus cells disorganizes the retinal lattice. A screen of rough eye mutants identifies two genes, roughest and echinus, required for the normal elimination of cells from the retinal epithelium. The use of an enhancer trap as a cell lineage marker shows that the cone cells, like other retinal cells, are not clonally related to each other or to their neighbors.

Local induction of patterning and programmed cell death in the developing Drosophila retina

Development ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 125 (12) ◽  
pp. 2327-2335 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.T. Miller ◽  
R.L. Cagan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Egf Receptor ◽  
Pigment Cells ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Adult Retina ◽  
Ras Pathway ◽  
Cell Ablation ◽  
Cone Cells ◽  
Local Cell

Local cell signaling can pattern the nervous system by directing cell fates, including programmed cell death. In the developing Drosophila retina, programmed cell death is used to remove excess cells between ommatidia. Cell ablation revealed the source and position of signals required for regulating the pattern of programmed cell death among these interommatidial cells. Two types of signals regulate this patterning event. Notch-mediated signals between interommatidial precursors result in removal of unneeded cells. Cone cells and primary pigment cells oppose this signal by supplying a ‘life’-promoting activity; evidence is provided that this signal occurs through localized activation of the EGF Receptor/Ras pathway. Together, these signals refine the highly regular pattern observed in the adult retina.

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.

scholarly journals A Screen for Mutations That Suppress the Phenotype of Drosophila armadillo, the β-Catenin Homolog

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1725-1740
Author(s):  
Rachel T Cox ◽  
Donald G McEwen ◽  
Denise L Myster ◽  
Robert J Duronio ◽  
Joseph Loureiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Wnt Pathway ◽  
Genetic Modifier ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Adherens Junction ◽  
Cell Fates ◽  
Wnt Signal

Abstract During development signaling pathways coordinate cell fates and regulate the choice between cell survival or programmed cell death. The well-conserved Wingless/Wnt pathway is required for many developmental decisions in all animals. One transducer of the Wingless/Wnt signal is Armadillo/β-catenin. Drosophila Armadillo not only transduces Wingless signal, but also acts in cell-cell adhesion via its role in the epithelial adherens junction. While many components of both the Wingless/Wnt signaling pathway and adherens junctions are known, both processes are complex, suggesting that unknown components influence signaling and junctions. We carried out a genetic modifier screen to identify some of these components by screening for mutations that can suppress the armadillo mutant phenotype. We identified 12 regions of the genome that have this property. From these regions and from additional candidate genes tested we identified four genes that suppress arm: dTCF, puckered, head involution defective (hid), and Dpresenilin. We further investigated the interaction with hid, a known regulator of programmed cell death. Our data suggest that Wg signaling modulates Hid activity and that Hid regulates programmed cell death in a dose-sensitive fashion.

scholarly journals Macrophage Autophagy and Oxidative Stress: An Ultrastructural and Immunoelectron Microscopical Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Perrotta ◽  
Valentina Carito ◽  
Emilio Russo ◽  
Sandro Tripepi ◽  
Saveria Aquila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Ultrastructural Localization ◽  
Microscopical Study ◽  
Beclin 1 ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
A Cell ◽  
First Time

The word autophagy broadly refers to the cellular catabolic processes that lead to the removal of damaged cytosolic proteins or cell organelles through lysosomes. Although autophagy is often observed during programmed cell death, it may also serve as a cell survival mechanism. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species within tissues and cells induces various defense mechanisms or programmed cell death. It has been shown that, besides inducing apoptosis, oxidative stress can also induce autophagy. To date, however, the regulation of autophagy in response to oxidative stress remains largely elusive and poorly understood. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the ratio between oxidative stress and autophagy in macrophages after oxidant exposure (AAPH) and to investigate the ultrastructural localization of beclin-1, a protein essential for autophagy, under basal and stressful conditions. Our data provide evidence that oxidative stress induces autophagy in macrophages. We demonstrate, for the first time by immunoelectron microscopy, the subcellular localization of beclin-1 in autophagic cells.

Programmed cell death during Drosophila embryogenesis

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 117 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Abrams ◽  
K. White ◽  
L.I. Fessler ◽  
H. Steller
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Acridine Orange ◽  
Nile Blue ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Blue Staining ◽  
Nuclear Condensation ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Ultrastructural Appearance ◽  
Dying Cells

The deliberate and orderly removal of cells by programmed cell death is a common phenomenon during the development of metazoan animals. We have examined the distribution and ultrastructural appearance of cell deaths that occur during embryogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. A large number of cells die during embryonic development in Drosophila. These cells display ultrastructural features that resemble apoptosis observed in vertebrate systems, including nuclear condensation, fragmentation and engulfment by macrophages. Programmed cell deaths can be rapidly and reliably visualized in living wild-type and mutant Drosophila embryos using the vital dyes acridine orange or nile blue. Acridine orange appears to selectively stain apoptotic forms of death in these preparations, since cells undergoing necrotic deaths were not significantly labelled. Likewise, toluidine blue staining of fixed tissues resulted in highly specific labelling of apoptotic cells, indicating that apoptosis leads to specific biochemical changes responsible for the selective affinity to these dyes. Cell death begins at stage 11 (approximately 7 hours) of embryogenesis and thereafter becomes widespread, affecting many different tissues and regions of the embryo. Although the distribution of dying cells changes drastically over time, the overall pattern of cell death is highly reproducible for any given developmental stage. Detailed analysis of cell death in the central nervous system of stage 16 embryos (13-16 hours) revealed asymmetries in the exact number and position of dying cells on either side of the midline, suggesting that the decision to die may not be strictly predetermined at this stage. This work provides the basis for further molecular genetic studies on the control and execution of programmed cell death in Drosophila.

Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the interdigital tissue of the embryonic chick leg bud

1993 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Garcia-Martinez ◽  
D. Macias ◽  
Y. Ganan ◽  
J.M. Garcia-Lobo ◽  
M.V. Francia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Dna Fragmentation ◽  
Limb Development ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Death Process ◽  
Chondrogenic Potential ◽  
Cell Death Process ◽  
Dying Cells

In this work we have attempted to characterize the programmed cell death process in the chick embryonic interdigital tissue. Interdigital cell death is a prominent phenomenon during limb development and has the role of sculpturing the digits. Morphological changes in the regressing interdigital tissue studied by light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy were correlated with the occurrence of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, evaluated using agarose gels. Programming of the cell death process was also analyzed by testing the chondrogenic potential of the interdigital mesenchyme, in high density cultures. Our results reveal a progressive loss of the chondrogenic potential of the interdigital mesenchyme, detectable 36 hours before the onset of the degenerative process. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was only detected concomitant with the appearance of cells dying with the morphology of apoptosis, but unspecific DNA fragmentation was also present at the same time. This unspecific DNA fragmentation was explained by a precocious activation of the phagocytic removal of the dying cells, confirmed in the tissue sections. From our observations it is suggested that programming of cell death involves changes before endonuclease activation. Further, cell surface changes involved in the phagocytic uptake of the dying cells appear to be as precocious as endonuclease activation.

Widespread programmed cell death in proliferative and postmitotic regions of the fetal cerebral cortex

Development ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 1165-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Blaschke ◽  
K. Staley ◽  
J. Chun
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Embryonic Cell ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Neuron Development ◽  
Cortical Cells ◽  
Dying Cells

A key event in the development of the mammalian cerebral cortex is the generation of neuronal populations during embryonic life. Previous studies have revealed many details of cortical neuron development including cell birthdates, migration patterns and lineage relationships. Programmed cell death is a potentially important mechanism that could alter the numbers and types of developing cortical cells during these early embryonic phases. While programmed cell death has been documented in other parts of the embryonic central nervous system, its operation has not been previously reported in the embryonic cortex because of the lack of cell death markers and the difficulty in following the entire population of cortical cells. Here, we have investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of dying cells in the embryonic cortex using an in situ endlabelling technique called ‘ISEL+’ that identifies fragmented nuclear DNA in dying cells with increased sensitivity. The period encompassing murine cerebral cortical neurogenesis was examined, from embryonic days 10 through 18. Dying cells were rare at embryonic day 10, but by embryonic day 14, 70% of cortical cells were found to be dying. This number declined to 50% by embryonic day 18, and few dying cells were observed in the adult cerebral cortex. Surprisingly, while dying cells were observed throughout the cerebral cortical wall, the majority were found within zones of cell proliferation rather than in regions of postmitotic neurons. These observations suggest that multiple mechanisms may regulate programmed cell death in the developing cortex. Moreover, embryonic cell death could be an important factor enabling the selection of appropriate cortical cells before they complete their differentiation in postnatal life.

scholarly journals Long-term depression: a cell biological view

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1633) ◽  
pp. 20130138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan Sheng ◽  
Ali Ertürk
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Dendritic Spines ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Long Term Depression ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Biological Programme

Recent studies of the molecular mechanisms of long-term depression (LTD) suggest a crucial role for the signalling pathways of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the weakening and elimination of synapses and dendritic spines. With this backdrop, we suggest that LTD can be considered as the electrophysiological aspect of a larger cell biological programme of synapse involution, which uses localized apoptotic mechanisms to sculpt synapses and circuits without causing cell death.

Metabolic events during programmed cell death in insect labial glands

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 597-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reginald Halaby ◽  
Zahra Zakeri ◽  
Richard A. Lockshin
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Adenosine Triphosphate ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiration ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Labial Gland ◽  
Dying Cells

The labial gland of Manduca sexta is a valuable system to study the mechanisms of programmed cell death since the death of the gland is nearly synchronous and, except for the anterior duct, involves all of the tissue. The gland degenerates in 5 days during pupation. Our previous work documents a drop in total protein synthesis as the gland degenerates. To evaluate potential causes of this altered protein synthesis, we monitored several parameters of metabolism in dying cells: levels of adenosine triphosphate to estimate the energy resources of the gland; reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide to assess mitochondrial respiration; levels of acid phosphatase to assay lysosomal enzyme activity; and concentrations of cyclic nucleotides and inositol triphosphate to monitor signaling. While protein synthesis fell precipitously on day 0, total adenosine triphosphate and mitochondrial respiration were unchanged until the cells underwent massive collapse on day 3. Lysosomal acid phosphatase increased during early metamorphosis, and ultimately the bulk of the cytoplasm was destroyed in autophagic vacuoles. Changes in the concentrations of second messengers were modest and late. The relationships between the metabolism and the collapse of the labial gland are under investigation.Key words: programmed cell death, Manduca sexta, energetics, lysosomes, second messengers, protein synthesis.

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