FUNCTIONAL COMPARTMENTALIZATION OF THE NUCLEUS

Recent applications of cell biology and molecular genetics have built an image of nuclear organization in which the molecular machines invol ved in transcription, RNA processing and replication assemble morpholo gically distinct nuclear organelles with defined functional properties . These observations indicate a very high level of structural organiza tion for the various metabolic activities occurring within the nucleus . We discuss the possible existence of novel regulatory functions inhe rent to nuclear architecture itself.