The present invention relates to genes, referred to herein as cell death-protective
genes, which protect cells against programmed cell death by antagonizing the activities
of genes which cause cell death. As described herein, a cell death-protective gene
from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, called ced-9 has been identified,
sequenced, and characterized. In addition, mutations which inactivate the ced-9
gene are also described.
