Theoretical mechanisms for synthesis of carcinogen-induced embryonic proteins: IV. The viruses.
Speculations are developed for a mechanism by which oncogenic viruses can induce alterations in cells allowing them to express embryonic genes. It is suggested that if viral deoxyribonucleic acid, directly or via ribonucleic acid directed deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity becomes inserted at particular euchromatin - heterochromatin junctions of quasidifferentiated stem-like cells, then deheterochromatization may result, causing in turn derepression of genes for acidic protein phosphokinases. This sets into motion a series of events including altered acid protein repressors of embryonic genes which are repressed by uniquely weak type repressors. This explains how viruses can act as specific embryonic gene-inducing agents similar to chemical inducing agents such as the hepatocarcinogen ethinine.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004279:DNA, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007181:Inclusion Bodies, Viral; D007938:Leukemia / Q000382:microbiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D009858:Oncogenic Viruses / Q000145:classification; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000472:pathogenicity
D002843:Chromatin; D004279:DNA, Viral