Question

In apoptosis, Ectopic expression of _____ leads to the survival of cells that would normally die.

Answer 1

In apoptosis, the ectopic expression of Bcl2 leads to the survival of cells that would normally die. Several factors could contribute to a cancer cell line's failure to undergo apoptosis, including mutations in apoptotic signaling, loss of apoptosis-inducing receptors, or overexpression of anti-apoptotic pathways.

Step-by-step explanation:

Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

In apoptosis, ectopic expression of Bcl2 leads to the survival of cells that would normally die. Bcl2 proteins, such as Bak and Bax, are involved in the mitochondrial pathways that regulate apoptosis. If a scientist notices that a cancer cell line fails to undergo apoptosis upon the addition of an apoptotic inducer, there could be several explanations:

• The cells might have a mutation that prevents the initiation of apoptosis signaling.
• The cells may have lost expression of the receptor needed for the apoptosis-inducing ligand to function.
• There could be an overexpression of a growth factor pathway that inhibits apoptosis.

Additionally, p53 protein mediates normal cell cycle control and can trigger apoptosis if certain cell cycle events fail. This regulatory outcome is beneficial for a multicellular organism as it prevents the accumulation of damaged or potentially dangerous cells.