apoptotic process
A programmed cell death process which begins when a cell receives an internal (e.g. DNA damage) or external signal (e.g. an extracellular death ligand), and proceeds through a series of biochemical events (signaling pathway phase) which trigger an execution phase. The execution phase is the last step of an apoptotic process, and is typically characterized by rounding-up of the cell, retraction of pseudopodes, reduction of cellular volume (pyknosis), chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation (karyorrhexis), plasma membrane blebbing and fragmentation of the cell into apoptotic bodies. When the execution phase is completed, the cell has died.
GO:0012501
programmed cell death
is_a
activation of apoptosis
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apoptosis
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apoptosis activator activity
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apoptosis signaling
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apoptotic cell death
exact
apoptotic program
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apoptotic programmed cell death
exact
caspase-dependent programmed cell death
related
cell suicide
broad
cellular suicide
broad
commitment to apoptosis
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induction of apoptosis
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induction of apoptosis by p53
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programmed cell death by apoptosis
exact
signaling (initiator) caspase activity
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type I programmed cell death
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