During embryonic development a number of previously formed cells is lost due to programmed cell death. A well-known example is the skin between the fingers of an embryo. In addition, cells that are damaged or dangerous for the organism are removed by apoptosis. Virus-infected cells, for instance, induce programmed cell death. A repressed apoptosis programme might lead to proliferation of cells and consequently to the development of cancer.
Diseases can also develop by an increase in apoptosis.
Especially neuronal diseases like Alzheimer's disease are influenced by an unregulated apoptosis induction. Ultimately, all apoptosis-inducing genes lead to the activation of a particular class of proteases. The target of our studies is to find out how these proteases are activated by the genes we have isolated. During apoptosis the members of the gene family of caspases are activated. As a result, these enzymes cleave specific substrates in the cell causing cell death.