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INTRINSIC PATHWAY. "The cell autonomous or intrinsic pathway is largely centered around and/or regulated by the mitochondria. The most widely studied form of intrinsic apoptosis is initiated by the stress-mediated release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria that results in the formation of the apoptosome. The apoptosome then activates initiator caspase, typically caspase 9, which leads to the activation of the executioner caspase 3. This leads to the same type of apoptotic response as observed for the extrinsic pathway." http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488910002764 View in LinkedIn

EUKARYOTE TO EUKARYOTE HRT. "In animals, cases of eukaryotes-to-eukaryote HGT include: P elements between fruit fly species; antifreeze proteins between fishes; carotenoids biosynthesis genes from fungi to pea aphids; and trypanosome to human." Seaweed digestive genes in Japanese people. And much more. https://lnkd.in/eBQXvvd View in LinkedIn

TWO MAJOR PATHWAYS. "The extrinsic and intrinsic pathways represent the two major well-studied apoptotic processes. The extrinsic pathway is mediated by a sub-group of Tumor Necrosis Factor receptors (TNFR) superfamily that includes TNFR, Fas and TRAIL." http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167488910002764 View in LinkedIn

DOMESTICATED FOREIGN GENES. "One classic example is the transfer of DNA from mitochondria and chloroplasts to the (eukaryotes host) nucleus after acquisition of these organelles by eukaryotes from ancient bacteria." Two gigantic cases of horizontal gene transfer to higher creatures and plants. Powering cells, controlling cell death. All by ancient bacteria. https://lnkd.in/eBQXvvd View in LinkedIn

CHAIN OF REACTIONS. "The mechanisms of apoptosis are highly complex and sophisticated, involving an energy-dependent cascade of molecular events." https://lnkd.in/eFmC7Ys View in LinkedIn

TAMED FOREIGN GENES. "Several of the foreign genes in metazoan genomes encoded enzymes and likely had active biochemical functions. In three nematode and all the primate genomes analyzed, the researchers found that 95 percent of foreign genes contained introns, suggesting that these genes have been “domesticated” over time." https://lnkd.in/eaMwmW6 View in LinkedIn

HRT OF OBESITY GENE. "The results supported analyses from previous studies that suggested human genes—such as FTO, the fat mass and obesity-associated gene—may have been horizontally acquired." https://lnkd.in/eaMwmW6 View in LinkedIn

FUNCTIONAL FOSSILS. "Many animal genomes include bacterial and fungal genes acquired by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) during evolution. Scanning the genomes of fruit flies, nematodes, primates, and humans, among other animals, researchers found evidence to suggest that some of these horizontally acquired genes may even be functional." https://lnkd.in/eaMwmW6 View in LinkedIn

SO ENDS the mini-overview of apoptosis, the process of cell death run by ancient bacterial originated mitochondria in our cells, with a central role in health and disease. With such a complex and fine-tuned mechanism, it is also vulnerable to random gene insertions from horizontal gene transfer or gene mutations. It is just too sophisticated to suffer change easily and without consequences. View in LinkedIn

THERAPEUTIC TARGET. "Inappropriate apoptosis (either too little or too much) is a factor in many human conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic damage, autoimmune disorders and many types of cancer. The ability to modulate the life or death of a cell is recognized for its immense therapeutic potential." https://lnkd.in/eFmC7Ys View in LinkedIn