Chapter 18, Problem 2P

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the statement “Mammalian cells that do not have cytochrome c should be resistant to apoptosis induced by DNA damage” is true or false.

Concept introduction: Regulated cell death is a counterintuitive yet crucial process in eukaryotic metazoan organisms. Apoptosis is defined as programmed cell death. Cytochrome c is an electron carrier which is normally present inside the mitochondria. When apoptosis is initiated, the cytochrome c is exported to the cytosol from the mitochondria. Cytochrome c then activates the apoptotic proteins (caspases) through a series of mechanisms. Caspases are proteases which cause cell death.