Molecular mechanisms of cell death and phagocytosis in Drosophila

The genetic tools available in Drosophila have facilitated our understandin g of how apoptosis is regulated and executed in the context of the developi ng organism. All embryonic apoptosis is initiated by the activity of three genes, rpr, grim and hid. Each of these genes is independently regulated, a llowing developmental apoptosis to be finely controlled. These initiators i n turn activate the core apoptotic machinery, including the caspases, Droso phila counterparts to other conserved components of the apoptotic machinery have been recently identified, and we discuss how these may be integrated into the process of normal developmentally regulated cell death. We also ou tline the role that phagocytosis plays in the final stages of apoptosis and consider the molecular mechanisms guiding the elimination of apoptotic cor pses.