Pallbearer and friends: lending a hand in apoptotic cell clearance

Engulfment and prompt removal of apoptotic cells occurs from embryogenesis throughout the lifespan of multicellular organisms. A new player, Pallbearer, has recently been identified in Drosophila as being important for efficient engulfment by macrophages. Pallbearer is a component of the SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complex involved in the ubiquitylation of proteins targeted for proteasomal degradation. This work provides the first link between the cellular processes of ubiquitylation/proteasomal degradation and the ability to clear apoptotic cells efficiently.