Which organelle is involved in the process of apoptosis?
Question
Which organelle is involved in the process of apoptosis?
Solution
The organelle involved in the process of apoptosis is the mitochondrion. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
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Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is a process that occurs when a cell is damaged, old, or functioning improperly. It's a way for the body to clean up and remove these cells.
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The mitochondrion plays a key role in this process. It's often referred to as the cell's powerhouse because it generates most of the cell's supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), used as a source of chemical energy.
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In addition to this, the mitochondrion also controls the intrinsic pathway for apoptosis. This pathway is one of two main ways that apoptosis occurs (the other being the extrinsic pathway, which is triggered by signals from outside the cell).
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When a cell is under stress, the mitochondrion releases proteins from the space between its inner and outer membranes. These proteins belong to a family known as the Bcl-2 family.
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Some of these proteins, when released into the cytosol, can trigger apoptosis. They do this by activating caspases, which are enzymes that go on to break down the cell.
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In this way, the mitochondrion plays a central role in the process of apoptosis.
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extracellular messenger of apoptosis:
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