title: alpha-Amanitin: a possible suicide substrate-like toxin involving the sulphoxide moiety of the bridged cyclopeptide.
abstract: The highly hepatotoxic natural compound, alpha-amanitin, is noteworthy for its uncommon properties: high and specific affinity for the enzyme RNA polymerase type II, and, furthermore, high potency, severity and irreversibility of the poisoning. Considering the structural uniqueness of the tryptathionine bridge bearing a sulphoxide function, a few mechanistic and biochemical observations suggest that an enzyme-induced process may underlie the characteristics of the poisoning evolution which leads to the cytolysis of the hepatocytes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Chimie et de Biochimie, URA 401 CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michelot
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Labia
mesh_terms: D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000378:metabolism*; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000546:Amanitins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D013454:Sulfoxides; D012319:RNA Polymerase II