Binding of benzo[a]pyrene to different chromatin domains following activation at the nuclear membrane.

When isolated liver nuclei from methylcholanthrene-treated rats are incubated with benzopyrene, covalent adducts are formed between DNA and the ultimate carcinogen, benzopyrene diol epoxide. Brief digestion with DNaseI, or micrococcal nuclease has been used to demonstrate that benzopyrene metabolites bind more readily to DNA in chromatin regions with a more open, active conformation than to inactive chromatin.