Research journal to host a webinar on apoptotic signalling in normal and cancer cell biology

The business office of Science, the world's leading peer-reviewed research journal, is producing a webinar on "Apoptotic Signaling in Normal and Cancer Cell Biology" to be broadcast live online at 12 noon ET (4:00 GMT) September 22, 2009, sponsored by Promega.

The webinar will feature a discussion on the options available for monitoring apoptotic induction in various model systems. The discussion will be led by a panel of experts including John Abrams from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Joseph T. Opferman, Ph.D., from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and moderated by Sean Sanders, Ph.D., the Commercial Editor for Science.

Apoptosis has been implicated in a broad spectrum of biological processes. As our understanding of the apoptotic process has expanded, it has become clear that it is a fundamental means by which organisms shape an appropriate multicellular architecture and maintain homeostasis and normal function. Researchers have shown that proper regulation of apoptotic pathways is required for normal embryogenesis and development, while dysregulation of cell death can lead to a range of diseases, including cancer.

"The development of technologies for monitoring cell death pathways and tracking apoptotic biomarkers has been a key element in our ability to understand the mechanisms at play." said Dr. Sanders. "In our discussion we will provide an overview of apoptosis and survey some of the key processes controlled by apoptosis and the assays available to monitor those processes."

Source: American Association for the Advancement of Science