A senior moment: What is the program of programmed cell death?

A previously generated sequence of putative mRNA from intersegmental muscles of Manduca sexta moths just before the death of the muscles has been identified as the N-terminal sequence of a copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase. This observation suggests that prior blockage of a scavenger of free radicals may set the muscle up for free radical damage just before it begins very vigorous activity resulting in high oxygen demand.