Final answer:
Apoptosis can be blocked by inhibiting activated caspases, but extensive DNA damage can still trigger apoptosis through the intrinsic pathway. The tumor suppressor protein p53 is an example of how DNA damage can lead to apoptosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process that helps remove damaged or unnecessary cells from the body. In this process, caspases, a group of enzymes, play a crucial role. Activated caspases promote apoptosis by cleaving various cellular components, leading to cell death. However, there are mechanisms that can block apoptosis by inhibiting activated caspases, such as certain proteins or chemicals. While these blockers can prevent apoptosis under normal circumstances, if the DNA damage is too severe or extensive, the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis will still occur, regardless of caspase inhibitors.
An example of DNA damage causing apoptosis is when the tumor suppressor protein p53 is activated. p53 acts as a guardian of the genome and halts the cell cycle to allow DNA repair. If DNA damage cannot be repaired, p53 triggers apoptosis to remove the damaged cell.