Do aflatoxin and polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens delete genes in the regions of chromosomes acted on by steroid hormones?
The hypothesis is proposed that: 1. Aflatoxin B1 and polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens bind to the regions of DNA to which steroid hormones bind and cause the deletion of genes in these regions. 2. The deletion of these genes may be responsible for a reduced number of ribosomes bound to the endoplasmic reticulum. 3. This may be the cause of the increased number of free hydrolytic enzymes in many tumour cells. 4. The free lysosomal enzymes in many tumour cells are responsible for many changes in these cells such as changes in cellular and intracellular membranes, reduction in level of cyclic AMP, loss of contact inhibition of growth, glycolysis under aerobic conditions, and damage to chromosomes of tumour cells.
D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005796:Genes / Q000187:drug effects*; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000348:Aflatoxins; D002273:Carcinogens; D006728:Hormones; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D013256:Steroids