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amanitin

amanitin

1 9.9
A deadly poison in some wild mushrooms that stops cells from making RNA
  • noun
  • /ˌæməˈnɪtɪn/
  • Specialized
: amanitina
  • Aamanitin is a potent toxin that blocks RNA synthesis, making it highly dangerous if ingested.

Examples

  • Alpha amanitin (sp?) comes to mind.

    Blog text (1)
  • Scientists study amanitin because it has unique properties that can aid in cancer research.

  • Certain mushrooms, like the Death Cap, contain amanitin, which can lead to fatal poisoning.

Surface Forms

amanitin singular
amanitins plural

Morphology

amanitin = Amanita (opaque) = Amanita + in

Although formed from the mushroom genus name plus the chemical suffix '-in', the result is a specialized toxin name whose meaning ('a deadly peptide') is not predictable by average learners from the base.

Etymology

Amanitin comes from the mushroom name Amanita plus the chemical ending -in, so it means the 'Amanita' substance. It is the strong poison in some wild mushrooms that can stop cells from making proteins and cause severe organ damage.