CAS 38380-04-0: PCB 149

PCB No 149 is a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) which has been shown to cause toxicity in humans. PCBs are lipophilic and accumulate in adipose tissue, where they can affect enzyme activities. PCBs also interfere with the synthesis of cholesterol, which is important for normal development and function of the adrenocortical cells. PCB No 149 has been shown to cause an increase in the incidence of adrenocortical carcinoma in rats. It also inhibits bacterial growth, as well as polymerase chain reaction-based assays when tested on model organisms such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PCB No 149 contains a number of congeners that have different effects on cellular activity. The α subunit is responsible for the inhibition of bacterial growth and protein synthesis by binding to ribosomes at the peptidyl transferase center, blocking peptide bond formation during translation.