Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a group of multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorders defined clinically by core deficits in social reciprocity and communication, restrictive interests and repetitive behaviors. ASD affects one in 54 children in the United States, one in 89 children in Europe, and one in 277 children in Asia, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 1-2%. While there is increasing consensus that ASD results from complex gene x environment interactions, the identity of specific environmental risk factors and the mechanisms by which environmental and genetic factors interact to determine individual risk remain critical gaps in our understanding of ASD etiology.

Synthesis and DNA binding profile of N-mono- and N,N'-disubstituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles.

A series of N-monosubstituted and N,N'-disubstituted derivatives of the indolo[3,2-b]carbazole chromophore have been prepared, and their binding affinity for duplex DNA has been evaluated by ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopies. It has been found that indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles bearing basic N-alkyl substituents are intercalators that bind DNA with affinities in the micromolar and submicromolar range and a preference for associating with sequences of mixed composition and purine-pyrimidine steps.