Amanullin is a
cyclic peptide
Cyclic peptides are polypeptide chains which contain a circular sequence of bonds. This can be through a connection between the amino and carboxyl ends of the peptide, for example in cyclosporin; a connection between the amino end and a side cha ...
. It is an
amatoxin, all of which are found in several members of the
mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing Sporocarp (fungi), fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. ''Toadstool'' generally refers to a poisonous mushroom.
The standard for the n ...
genus ''
Amanita
The genus ''Amanita'' contains about 600 species of agarics, including some of the most toxic known mushrooms found worldwide, as well as some well-regarded Edible mushroom, edible species (and many species of unknown edibility). The genus is re ...
''. The oral of amanullin is approximately 20 mg/kg in mice; however, it is non-toxic in humans.
Toxicology
Like other
amatoxins, amanullin is an inhibitor of
RNA polymerase II
RNA polymerase II (RNAP II and Pol II) is a Protein complex, multiprotein complex that Transcription (biology), transcribes DNA into precursors of messenger RNA (mRNA) and most small nuclear RNA (snRNA) and microRNA. It is one of the three RNA pol ...
. Amanullin has a species dependent and specific attraction to the enzyme RNA polymerase II. Upon ingestion, it binds to the RNA polymerase II enzyme, effectively causing
cytolysis of
hepatocytes (liver cells).
See also
*
Mushroom poisoning
References
External links
Amatoxins REVISED(German)
{{Toxins
Peptides
Amatoxins
Hepatotoxins