title: Genetic control of programmed cell death in the nematode C. elegans.
abstract: The wild-type functions of the genes ced-3 and ced-4 are required for the initiation of programmed cell deaths in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The reduction or loss of ced-3 or ced-4 function results in a transformation in the fates of cells that normally die; in ced-3 or ced-4 mutants, such cells instead survive and differentiate, adopting fates that in the wild type and associated with other cells. ced-3 and ced-4 mutants appear grossly normal in morphology and behavior, indicating that programmed cell death is not an essential aspect of nematode development. The genes ced-3 and ced-4 define the first known step of a developmental pathway for programmed cell death, suggesting that these genes may be involved in determining which cells die during C. elegans development.
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin