Autophagy
Autophagy is the degradation of cytoplasmic components through an autophagolysosome (autolysosome). Of the many types of autophagy in nature, macroautophagy, which involves the sequestration of cellular material by a double-membrane autophagosome, has been observed in C. elegans. The steps in this degradation process include nucleation of vesicle formation, expansion of the membrane with concomitant capture of cellular components (vesicle elongation), autophagolysosome or autolysosome, formation (autophagosome fusion with lysosome), and completion (vesicle breakdown and the lysis of the captured cytoplasmic material).
Necrosis
Necrosis and apoptosis are contrasting modes of cell death. Whereas apoptotic cell death is associated with development and characterised by distinct stages of cell disassembly and engulfment, necrotic cell death is not a programmed cell fate and is characterised by an catastrophic disruption of the plasma membrane. Necrotic cell death is an important response to and in some cases, defense mechanism of, environmental or viral/bacterial pathogen assault.
Sarcomere assembly
The sarcomere is the basic unit of a muscle cell and is comprised of thick and thin filaments made up of myosin and actin, respectively. Muscle sarcomere assembly involves many proteins and occurs in many steps, one of which is the attachment of sarcomeres to the sarcolemma (the membrane of the muscle cell). The steps involved in initiating the correct placement of sarcomere-sarcolemma attachments and other sarcomere substructures are poorly understood and are being addressed through studies of C. elegans mutants. These attachment sites are very similar to vertebrate adhesion complexes.
Neurotransmission
Neurons communicate across synaptic junctions with target cells, such as neurons, muscles, or specialized secretory cells through chemical messengers that are released from the neuron and bind to and activate receptors on the target cell. Pre-synaptic release of neurotransmitters can be evoked, such as through mechanical or chemical stimulation, as well as can occur spontaneously at a low rate. Depending on the neurotransmitter released and or the receptors of the post-synaptic cell, the activation of receptors can trigger excitatory or inhibitory actions in the target cell. These neuronal communications can also result in short term post-synapatic cellular changes to the membrane potential or can cause the activation of signaling cascades, resulting in longer term changes in the cell.