Polybrominated naphthalene and diiodobenzene interactions with specific binding sites for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver cytosol.

We provide evidence for two new classes of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon ligands for the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or Ah) receptor: brominated naphthalenes and iodobenzenes. Polybrominated naphthalenes with four or more bromine atoms concentrated in lateral positions were shown to bind specifically and with high affinity (Kd approximately 10(-8) M) to the Ah receptor in rat liver cytosol preparations. The hexabrominated naphthalene isomers bind with high and nearly equal affinities but have been previously shown to have different toxicological properties. Possible explanations for these differences include differences in metabolism, antagonist versus agonist Ah receptor binding of some isomers, and the involvement of other binding sites in vivo that require different structural requirements. The moderate binding activity of the diiodobenzenes suggests that thyroid hormones should receive further study as possible endogenous ligands for the Ah receptor. It is difficult to explain the binding results with these two classes of compounds using previously developed molecular concepts for Ah receptor interactions based primarily on molecular size considerations.