Which of the following is typical of apoptosis?
A. Activation of DNA synthesis, as in the mitotic cycleB. Activation of endogenous endonucleases
C. Reduced cytosolic free calcium
D.Karyolysis
The answer is B.
Apoptosis is characterized by the activation of endonucleases, which leads to DNA fragmentation. The chromatin
of apoptotic nuclei appears clumped as inpyknosism, but karolysis does not
occur. Nuclei may become fragmented, but this fragmentation is distinct from
mitotic division. Apoptosis does not induce an influx of inflammatory cells,
and the dead cell fragments are taken up by adjacent cells in the tissue
itself. Similar to other forms of cell death, apoptosis is associated with an
influx of calcium into the cytosol.
