Induction of apoptosis in a Drosophila neuronal cell line by calcium ionophore.

Apoptotic type cell death was induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187, in a Drosophila CNS derived cell line, ML-DmBG2-c2. It was judged by the ultrastructural observations and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, typical characteristics of apoptosis. The ionophore failed to induce apoptosis in Ca2+- free medium, which suggests that the increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration by the treatment of A23187 triggers apoptosis in the clonal cells.