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Resources » Process&Pathway

Germline apoptosis

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  • Overview

    Germline apoptosis

    Other name:
    Life stage:
    WormBase ID:
    WBbiopr:00000104
    Germline apoptosis is an integral part of oogenesis in many animals, including humans. Germline apoptosis relies on key components of the core apoptotic machinery, including CED-3 and CED-4 and on the same engulfment mechanism as for somatic corpses. The Ras pathway might directly or indirectly regulate germline PCD as shown, unlike somatic apoptosis, cell death in the germline is not developmentally programmed by cell lineage. Germline apoptosis can be divided into two categories, physiological or stress-induced. Physiological germline apoptosis reduces the number of cells that complete oogenesis, and its induction is independent of the BH3-only apoptosis effecter EGL-1, differing from other apoptotic pathways. Stress-induced germline apoptosis is triggered by a genomic integrity checkpoint. In addition, exposure to certain environmental insults or pathogens induces germ cell apoptosis. Germ cell apoptosis in C. elegans occurs only during oocyte production, and is further restricted to the gonadal loop region, where developing oocytes exit the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase and transition into diplotene. let-60 (ras), lin-45 (raf), mek-2 (MAPKK), and mpk-1 (MAPK) have been show to be required for exit from pachytene arrest, as well as for PCD in the female germline, suggesting the Ras pathway might directly or indirectly regulate germline PCD.
    Related processes:
    Historical gene: