Apoptosis (Inhibition of cell survival) A form of programmed cell death induced by external or internal signals that trigger the activity of proteolytic caspases, whose actions dismantle the cell and result in cell death. Apoptosis begins internally with condensation and subsequent fragmentation of the cell nucleus (blebbing) while the plasma membrane remains intact. Other characteristics of apoptosis include DNA fragmentation and the exposition of phosphatidylserine. GO:0006915 IEV:0000070 KEGG:hsa04210 KEGG:mmu04210 KEGG:rno04210 apoptotic cell death apoptotic programmed cell death event programmed cell death by apoptosis Programmed cell death