Aflatoxin B1: binding to DNA in vitro and alteration of RNA metabolism in vivo.

Aflatoxin B(1) binds to both native and denatured DNA, as shown by spectroscopy and equilibrium dialysis. It also strongly inhibits incorporation of cytidine into rat liver nuclear RNA and lowers the RNA content of the nucleus. The extremle toxicity and carcinogenicity of aflatoxin B(1) may be direct results of the affinity of this agent for DNA.