By design or by chance: cell death during Drosophila embryogenesis.
Cell death plays an essential role during Drosophila embryogenesis. However, it remains an enigma as to what mechanisms determine (or select) the specific cells to be eliminated at a particular developmental stage. Is it mostly dependent on the lineage of the cell, signifying genetic predetermination, or is it due to the failure of a cell to compete for growth factors, which is more or less by chance? Recent developments in studying the molecular mechanism of cell death during Drosophila embryogenesis has provided much insight into our understanding of the relative importance of, and the interaction between, these two mechanisms in shaping the embryo.
Lin
Nianwei
N
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, UF Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0232, USA.
Zhang
Can
C
Pang
John
J
Zhou
Lei
L
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D049750:Genome, Insect; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins