Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurological and developmental disorder that is characterized by altered brain structures and interconnectivity, which results in a vast array of psychosocial and physiological irregularities. This is due to the complex genetic topography of autism and to the intersectionality of genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the development of this disorder. To better understand the genetic factors that cause autism, the gene linc00896, which encodes a long noncoding intergenic RNA, was biochemically and biologically analyzed primarily through circular dichroism, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. From this analysis, it was determined that LINC00896 RNA has a vast interactome and that through this interactome, LINC00896 RNA influences numerous cellular processes that contribute to the symptoms of autistic patients. Additionally, the structural analysis of LINC00896 RNA indicated stable but flexible secondary and tertiary structures that support the numerous binding interactions identified in the interactome. Through these empirical findings, the linc00896 gene was identified as being an important genetic factor that contributes to the development of autism.