Achieving an understanding of how apoptosis/PCD (programmed cell death) is integrated within cellular responses to environmental and intracellular signals is a daunting task. From the sensation of a stimulus to the point of no return, a programme of cell death must engage specific pro-death components, whose effects can in turn be enhanced or repressed by downstream regulatory factors. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in our understanding of how components involved in these processes function. We now know that some of the factors involved in PCD networks have ancient origins that pre-date multicellularity and, indeed, eukaryotes themselves. A subject attracting much attention is the role that the actin cytoskeleton, itself a cellular component with ancient origins, plays in cell death regulation. Actin, a key cellular component, has an established role as a cellular sensor, with reorganization and alterations in actin dynamics being a well known consequence of signalling. A range of studies have revealed that actin also plays a key role in apoptosis/PCD regulation. Evidence implicating actin as a regulator of eukaryotic cell death has emerged from studies from the Animal, Plant and Fungal Kingdoms. Here we review recent data that provide evidence for an active, functional role for actin in determining whether PCD is triggered and executed, and discuss these findings within the context of regulation of actin dynamics.
Skip Nav Destination
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Article navigation
August 2008
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
- PDF Icon PDF LinkEditorial Board
Review Article|
July 15 2008
A role for actin in regulating apoptosis/programmed cell death: evidence spanning yeast, plants and animals
Vernonica E. Franklin-Tong;
Vernonica E. Franklin-Tong
*School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Campbell W. Gourlay
Campbell W. Gourlay
1
†Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed ([email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
February 08 2008
Revision Received:
May 09 2008
Accepted:
May 13 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Biochem J (2008) 413 (3): 389–404.
Article history
Received:
February 08 2008
Revision Received:
May 09 2008
Accepted:
May 13 2008
Citation
Vernonica E. Franklin-Tong, Campbell W. Gourlay; A role for actin in regulating apoptosis/programmed cell death: evidence spanning yeast, plants and animals. Biochem J 1 August 2008; 413 (3): 389–404. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BJ20080320
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Follow us on Twitter @Biochem_Journal
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() View past webinars > |