Reference no: EM131661238

The compound α-amanitin is the principle toxic compound found in the poisonous mushroom species, Amanita phalloides, which iscommonly knonw as the death cap. This compound binds to the enzyme RNA polymerase II, the principle enzyme responsible for copying DNA to produce messenger RNA. It is estimated that ingestion of about 30 g of the mushroom cap, or about half of one cap, is sufficient to kill a human. The LD50 (lethal does 50%, or the does at which half of the individuals receiving this dose die) is reported to be 0.1 mg/kg of body weight. How many molecules of α-amanitin are in the LD50 dose for a typical 70 kg adult human male? The molecular mass of α- amanitin is 918.97 g/mol.