The circular dichroism (CD) and circular intensity differential scattering (CIDS) contributions to the CD of single Chinese hamster (CHO) cells have been measured as a function of the position in the cell cycle. The data are analyzed in three main spectral regions: (1) the region above 290 nm (scattering region), (2) the 250-290-nm regions (nucleic acid absorption region), and (3) the region below 240 nm (protein absorption region). The results show that CD/CIDS microspectrophotometry is a good indicator of the cell cycle phase. The results are consistent with the view that chromatin is organized in chiral superstructures which differentially scatter circularly polarized light. These structures appear highly specific and repeatable as the cell passes through its cycle. © 1985, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.