alpha amanitin

Epidemiology

• alpha-Amanitin is derived from the poisonous mushroom Amanita phalloides (death cup, destroying angel)

Pathology

• it inhibits RNA polymerase-2 by binding very tightly to the enzyme (K=10-8M)
• the mushroom also contains phalloidin, an inhibitor of cytoskeletal function
• alpha-Amanitin is 10-20 times more toxic than phalloidin

Laboratory

• alpha-amantin in urine
  • alpha-amantin + gamma-amantin in urine

More general terms

• amanitin