Life or Death

When it comes to our health, death is just as important as life. Apoptosis – a type of cell death – is vital to keep everything balanced. Too much cell death can lead to neurodegenerative conditions, whereas not removing abnormal cells can result in cancer. The process of apoptosis culminates with enzymes called caspases dismantling the cell. Once caspases swing into action, there is no going back for that cell – or so we thought. Researchers activated apoptosis in cells for a limited time and then tracked whether they would survive. Despite the build-up of ‘executioner’ caspases in the cell (green), cells were able to come back from the brink of death. In the centre of the frame, a cell divides to become two – something that a cell sentenced to death wouldn’t be able to do. This could be another way that a cancer could return even after treatment.

Written by Sophie Arthur

Sophie Arthur

former Science Communications Officer MRC LMS

Formerly a stem cell biologist, Sophie has since moved into science communication working at the MRC LMS. She also writes an award winning science and education blog Soph talks science.

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• Video from work by Maddalena Nano and colleagues
• Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
• Video copyright held by original authors
• Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS), January 2023