Components of the Apoptotic Program in Mammals

A larger part of the apoptotic program exists in the cell in a latent, inactive form and it only requires an apoptotic stimulus to activate the program and to initiate apoptosis. Thus, apoptotic processes can also take place without activation of transcription. There are also forms of apoptosis that are dependent on transcription. 

The execution of the apoptotic program is strictly controlled at several levels. This creates links to signaling pathways that have a control function in cell division. 

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