Biopolymers and cell. 1985. Volume 1. № 4. 199 - 203

B. D. Zhivotovsky, K. P. Hanson

ROLE OF GENOME ACTIVATION IN THE PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH

Summary

    Two main types of cell death are known: the «violent» and physiological (programmed). The programmed death (PD) of cells is an active genetically regulated process which plays an important role both in the cell differentiation and histomorphogenesis. One of the PD expressions at the molecular level is a decay of nuclear chromatin which is activated by different external inducers. Inhibitors of RNA or protein synthesis prevent the chromatin decay, thus indicating the requirement of certain specific proteins formed de novo. It is found that at the initial stages of chromatin decay development and cell death the synthesis of several «new» RNA and protein species is activated. The role of the genetic activity induction in the realization of PD cells is discussed.