1,074
Views
86
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Genetic control of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in Drosophila

Pages 78-90 | Received 28 Dec 2008, Accepted 08 Jan 2009, Published online: 15 Feb 2009
 

Abstract

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is a highly conserved cellular process that has been intensively investigated in nematodes, flies, and mammals. The genetic conservation, the low redundancy, the feasibility for high-throughput genetic screens and the identification of temporally and spatially regulated apoptotic responses make Drosophila melanogaster a great model for the study of apoptosis. Here, we review the key players of the cell death pathway in Drosophila and discuss their roles in apoptotic and non-apoptotic processes.