title: Cell death genes in invertebrates and (maybe) vertebrates.
abstract: That naturally occurring cell death in the nervous and other systems is an active and physiologically appropriate process has received much attention recently and has gained a significant degree of acceptance. The identification of cell death genes in invertebrates, the characterization of gene products that function as cell death suppressors, and the demonstration that some proto-oncogenes elicit cell death, as well as proliferation, in certain cell types have heightened interest in the mechanism of programmed cell death. Yet, evidence for a genetic program for cell death in vertebrates remains circumstantial and, so far, vertebrate 'cell death' genes exist only in theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horigome
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005796:Genes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000502:physiology*