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Apoptosis and its functional significance in molluscs

  • Unusual Model Systems for Cell Death Research
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Abstract

Programmed cell death leading to apoptosis is essential for normal development and homeostasis in plants and throughout the animal kingdom. Although there are differences in apoptotic mechanisms between lower animals and vertebrates, crucial biochemical components of the programmed cell death pathways remained remarkably conserved throughout evolution. Despite decades of studies on the neurobiology and development of mollusks, comparatively little is known about the mechanisms of apoptosis in this phylum. In this review, an attempt is made to summarize data obtained on mollusks so far, and to discuss the molecular mechanisms, the functional and ecological significance of apoptosis and the advantages of snail preparations as tools for programmed cell death research. A definitive comparison of the data obtained on mollusks with those obtained on the more widely studied vertebrates, will contribute to the better understanding of the apoptotic process in general and of its evolutionary development.

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Acknowledgments

Author gratefully acknowledges valuable suggestions and comments of the Editors on the article. The author sincerely thanks anonymous referee for her/his valuable efforts in improving the language of the article. This work was supported by grant from Hungarian Research Scientific Fund (OTKA 43216).

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  1. Department of Zoology, Balaton Limnological Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), Klebelsberg Kuno Str. 3, 8237, Tihany, Hungary

    Tibor Kiss

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Kiss, T. Apoptosis and its functional significance in molluscs. Apoptosis 15, 313–321 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-009-0446-3

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