Why is Alpha-Amanitin fatal?
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Alpha-amanitin, a cyclic octapeptide, is toxic because of its affinity for RNA polymerase II in eukaryotic cells. Since this enzyme is responsible for mRNA synthesis in the cell, the compound is a potent and selective inhibitor of mRNA synthesis.
Which enzyme is most sensitive to alpha-Amanitin?
RNA polymerase II is the most sensitive (50% inhibition at 1.0 mug of alpha-amanitin per ml).
What does Alpha-Amanitin inhibit?
alpha-Amanitin, a toxic substance from the mushroom Amanita phalloides, is a potent inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (the nucleoplasmic form) from sea urchin, rat liver, and calf thymus. This compound exerts no effect on the activity of polymerase I (nucleolar form) or polymerase III (also nucleoplasmic).
What does α Amanitin do?
α-Amanitin is a selective inhibitor of RNA polymerase II and III but not I. This mechanism makes it a deadly toxin. α-Amanitin can also be used to determine which types of RNA polymerase are present. This is done by testing the sensitivity of the polymerase in the presence of α-amanitin.
Is there an antidote for death cap?
Use of acetylcysteine as the life-saving antidote in Amanita phalloides (death cap) poisoning.
How does amanitin affect RNA polymerase?
The binding of alpha-amanitin permits the entry of NTPs through the funnel and the pore and also allows for entry and exit of both the RNA and DNA strands. The binding of alpha-amanitin specifically effects the bridge helix chain of RNA polymerase II.
How does mushroom toxin alpha-amanitin inhibits the process of transcription?
Alpha amanitin inhibits RNA polymerase II (pol II) by blocking initiation and elongation of transcription. It has been shown to bind the pol II beneath the bridge helix and across the cleft between Rpb1 and Rpb2 (1). Most of the residues of pol II that actually interact are on the bridge helix.
How does alpha-amanitin inhibit transcription?
α-Amanitin-Inhibiting RNA Polymerases II and III Amanitin binds with high specificity and high affinity (Ki = 3–4 nM) near the catalytic active site of RNAP II. It traps a conformation of the enzyme that prevents nucleotide incorporation and translocation of the transcript.
Can you survive eating a Deathcap?
But the poisonous amatoxins inside the mushroom are at work and 3-5 days after ingestion the person can experience liver, kidney and other organ failure, and death.