Apoptosis

The End of a Cell Apoptosis, the programmed suicide of a cell. This image is created from what we know the process of apoptosis entails. When apoptosis occurs proteins called caspases are triggered into action. They break down the cellular components needed for survival, and they induce the production of enzymes known as DNases, which destroy the DNA in the nucleus (centre) of the cell. The cell shrinks sending out distress signals to macrophages. The macrophages get rid of the shrunken cells. Sometimes the bodies signals go array and the wrong cells kill themselves and those which should die don't. Increased apoptosis is characteristic of diseases such as AIDS and parkinsons whereas decreased apoptosis is linked to cancer. Cellular level art, paint on silk, digitised.