Neuroscience Apoptosis and Neurodegeneration Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What do the 'DAMAGE' and 'Physiological death signals' lines in the diagram represent?

Triggers for apoptosis (correct)

Forms of cellular energy

Methods of cell repair

Types of cell division

What does the tilted seesaw in the diagram illustrate?

The relationship between energy production and cell death

The differentiation of stem cells

The rate of cellular respiration

The balance between proapoptotic and antiapoptotic signals (correct)

Why is apoptosis considered essential for the well-being of an organism?

It increases cell proliferation rates

It stimulates tissue regeneration

It enhances metabolic processes

It helps maintain cellular homeostasis (correct)

In the context of the diagram, what do proapoptotic proteins do?

Stimulate the process of apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'homeostasis' refer to in relation to apoptosis?

The balance of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic signals Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is not involved in neuronal death?

Overproduction of nerve growth factor Signup and view all the answers

What does synaptosis refer to in the context of neuronal damage?

Loss of synapses that may be reversible Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following brain regions is primarily affected by selective apoptosis in neurodegeneration?

Cerebral cortex Signup and view all the answers

What role does oxidative stress (ROS damage) play in neuronal function?

It leads to neuronal dysfunction and loss. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following diseases is associated with neuronal death in the context of neurodegenerative disorders?

Alzheimer's disease Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the first observable changes in a cell undergoing apoptosis?

The cell loses cell contacts and changes shape. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs to the chromatin during the apoptotic process?

Chromatin condenses and moves towards the nuclear envelope. Signup and view all the answers

What leads to significant cell shrinkage during apoptosis?

Loss of cellular water. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the nucleus during the latter stages of apoptosis?

It collapses and fragments into apoptotic bodies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of macrophages in the apoptosis process?

They recognize, engulf, and digest apoptotic bodies. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the tumor suppressor protein p53 have in apoptosis?

It activates BH3-only proteins to promote apoptosis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of high levels of anti-apoptotic proteins in cancer cells?

Enhanced survival of damaged cells. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following proteins are considered pro-apoptotic?

BAX and BAK Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions is the function of the BH3-only proteins?

To inhibit pro-survival proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What is MOMP and its significance in apoptosis?

It leads to the release of apoptotic factors from mitochondria. Signup and view all the answers

What initial event triggers the apoptosis pathway?

Receiving a death signal Signup and view all the answers

During which phase of apoptosis can the cell still be rescued?

Reversible commitment to death Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the cell reaches the irreversible execution phase?

Rescue becomes impossible Signup and view all the answers

What is the final stage of apoptosis characterized by?

Degradation of cell components into vesicles Signup and view all the answers

How is adaptability represented in the apoptosis diagram?

With a bar graph showing progressive decline Signup and view all the answers

What role do initiator caspases play in the apoptosis process?

They activate executioner caspases through dimerization. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of procaspases?

They are inactive forms of caspases. Signup and view all the answers

How are executioner caspases activated in the apoptosis mechanism?

They are cleaved and activated by dimerized initiator caspases. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to substrates when executioner caspases are activated?

They are cleaved, leading to cellular components destruction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of dimerization in the activation of initiator caspases?

It is essential for the activation of initiator caspases. Signup and view all the answers

What role does cytochrome C play in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis?

Activates APAF1 to form the apoptosome Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following initiates the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis?

DNA damage, ER stress, hypoxia Signup and view all the answers

What is the outcome of the BAX and BAK heterodimer formation in apoptosis?

Release of cytochrome C Signup and view all the answers

What does the apoptosome consist of?

APAF1 with dimerized initiator caspase 9 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a step in the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis?

Formation of death receptor complexes Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between necrosis and apoptosis regarding the number of cells affected?

Only necrosis affects many cells Signup and view all the answers

How do macrophages interact with cells undergoing necrosis compared to apoptosis?

Macrophages only ingest necrotic cell contents Signup and view all the answers

Which process is characterized by membrane blebbing while maintaining membrane integrity?

Apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

In which mechanism of cell death is chromatin condensation and DNA degradation observed?

Only in apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

What happens to organelles during necrosis compared to apoptosis?

Organelles swell and leak in necrosis but not in apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

What role do Smac mimetics play in apoptosis pathways?

They sequester anti-apoptotic IAPs. Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism does c-FLIP inhibit to enhance apoptosis?

It competes with pro-caspase-8. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following proteins are antagonized by Bcl-2 family inhibitors?

Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of TRAIL in the apoptosis pathways?

To induce apoptosis by binding to DR4 and DR5. Signup and view all the answers

What downstream effect does the activation of caspase-8 have in apoptosis?

It activates pro-caspase-3. Signup and view all the answers

What role do adaptor proteins play in the extrinsic receptor pathway?

They facilitate the dimerization of initiator caspases. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is essential for the activation of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis?

Binding of a ligand to a death receptor. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following initiator caspases are primarily involved in the extrinsic receptor pathway?

Caspase 8 and 10 Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) in the extrinsic pathway?

To recruit executioner caspases for apoptosis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the extrinsic receptor pathway is incorrect?

It does not involve any adaptor proteins. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Apoptosis and Neurodegeneration

Neurons are post-mitotic (cannot replace themselves)
Neuronal death caused by loss of proper connections, loss of growth factors (e.g., NGF – nerve growth factor), ROS damage (especially oxidative damage)
Neuronal dysfunction or damage results in loss of synapses (synaptoisis; irreversible apoptosis)
Neuronal death underlies the symptoms of many human neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases.

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Description

Test your knowledge on apoptosis and its role in neuronal health. This quiz covers key concepts like physiological death signals, oxidative stress, and the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on brain function. Explore the intricate processes involved in cell death and the maintenance of homeostasis.