GEMP - Apoptosis 🔥
Apoptosis Introduction Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a fundamental biological process that plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating development in multicellular organisms. It is essential for normal growth, immune system function, and the elimination of damaged cells. Understanding apoptosis is particularly important in the medical field, as...
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Question 1
A researcher observes that a new cancer therapy shows potential to selectively enhance apoptosis in tumor cells. Which key mechanism could this therapy be targeting to promote cell death in these cancerous cells?
Explanation
Activating pro-apoptotic proteins within the mitochondria relates to enhancing the intrinsic pathway, which is often a target for cancer therapies aiming to induce apoptosis in tumor cells.
Question 2
In a study on neurodegenerative diseases, researchers find excessive neuron loss attributed to apoptosis. What strategy might they employ to protect these neurons from excessive apoptosis?
Explanation
Inhibiting pro-apoptotic proteins like BAX could reduce excessive apoptosis, thereby protecting neurons from loss in neurodegenerative diseases.
Question 3
A pharmaceutical company develops a drug designed to activate caspase-8 in order to treat autoimmune diseases. Based on the mechanisms of apoptosis, what pathway is this drug likely targeting?
Explanation
Caspase-8 is primarily involved in the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis, which is activated through death receptor engagement.
Question 4
A patient develops cancer cells that resist apoptosis. What might be a plausible mechanism contributing to their resistance, based on known apoptosis dysregulation?
Explanation
Cancer cells often reduce the expression of death receptors, limiting the ability to undergo apoptosis and resist cell death.
Question 5
During an experiment observing programmed cell death, which key characteristic helps distinguish apoptosis from necrosis in treated cells?
Explanation
The formation of apoptotic bodies is a defining feature of apoptosis, whereas necrosis involves swelling and breaking of cells, causing inflammation.
Question 6
After analyzing a new caspase-inhibiting compound, researchers find that it leads to increased cell survival in cultured cancer cells. What underlying mechanism could explain this effect based on apoptosis pathways?
Explanation
Inhibiting caspases affects both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, thus preventing apoptosis and leading to increased cell survival in culture.
Question 7
A genetic mutation leads to the overexpression of pro-apoptotic proteins in muscle cells. How might this affect the overall health of the organism based on the role of apoptosis?
Explanation
Excessive activation of apoptosis due to overexpressed pro-apoptotic proteins could lead to muscle degeneration, negatively impacting overall health.
Question 8
In a comparative analysis of apoptotic processes, what makes the apoptotic process distinct in its clean removal of cells compared to necrosis?
Explanation
Apoptosis is characterized by its highly regulated process that leads to cell shrinkage and formation of apoptotic bodies, avoiding inflammation.
Question 9
A researcher is studying a new cancer therapy that aims to enhance the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Which of the following findings would best indicate that the therapy is effectively promoting apoptosis in cancer cells?
Explanation
The release of cytochrome c into the cytosol signifies the activation of the intrinsic pathway, a crucial event leading to the execution of apoptosis in cancer cells.