Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) is a genetically determined process of cellular suicide that is activated in response to cellular stress or damage, as well as in response to the developmental signals in multicellular organisms. Although historically studied in eukaryotes, it has been proposed that PCD also functions in prokaryotes, either during the developmental life cycle of certain bacteria or to remove damaged cells from a population in response to a wide variety of stresses. This review will examine several putative examples of bacterial PCD and summarize what is known about the molecular components of these systems.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Apoptosis / genetics
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Apoptosis / physiology*
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Bacteria / cytology*
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Bacteria / genetics*
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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Bacterial Toxins / genetics
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Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
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Chromosomes, Bacterial
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / metabolism
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N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase / metabolism
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Plasmids / genetics
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Protein Kinases / genetics
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Protein Kinases / metabolism
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
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Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
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Signal Transduction
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / cytology
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / genetics
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Streptococcus pneumoniae / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Bacterial Toxins
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LrgA protein, Staphylococcus aureus
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Membrane Proteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Transcription Factors
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VncR protein, Streptococcus pneumoniae
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irgA protein, Vibrio cholerae
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irgB protein, Vibrio cholerae
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Protein Kinases
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VncS histidine kinase
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N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase