A HYPOTHESIS FOR CHEMICAL CARCINOGEN-INDUCED CHROMATIN CONDENSATION

A hypothesis for chemical carcinogen induced condensation of nuclear a nd nucleolar chromatin is proposed. Chromatin condensation is believed to be a result of cascade effects initiated by the inhibition of mess enger RNA synthesis after exposure to chemical carcinogen in vivo. Inh ibition of messenger RNA synthesis leads to the loss of protein produc tion, which in turn causes the dephosphorylation of histone H1 and tri ggers the condensation of chromatin in vivo.