* RNA breakdown is an indicator of apoptosis or programmed cell death. This could be triggered by viral load, causing suicidal like symptoms in honey bee colonies. However, other factors can also trigger apoptosis or premature aging and death. As Dr. Berenbaum says herself, they may have the bullet hole, but they don't have the gun or the shooter. > Programmed cell death is a fundamental process of development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. The most prevalent form is a biochemical and morphological process called apoptosis, an active process by which cells carry out their own death by activating an internal suicide program. > A number of different stimuli are known to induce apoptosis, including glucocorticoids, DNA damage, growth factor withdrawal, viral and bacterial infection, and oxidative stress. > Studies on adaptation to oxidative stress have suggested an association of the degradation of an unknown RNA species with apoptosis. We have hypothesized that degradation of this RNA may represent an indicator of apoptosis. "16S Mitochondrial Ribosomal RNA Degradation Is Associated with Apoptosis" Dana R Crawford, et al Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html