Death cap mushrooms produce a substance called - amanitin. a- amanitin efficiently blocks synthesis of mRNA, but not of tRNA or rRNA in eukaryotic organisms. How is that possible?
A) a- amanitin efficiently interferes with RNA polymerase III, but not RNA polymerase I and II.
B) a- amanitin efficiently interferes with the action of RNA polymerase II, but not RNA polymerase I or III.
C) a- amanitin efficiently interferes with the action of RNA polymerase I, but not RNA polymerase II or III.
D) a- amanitin efficiently blocks the action of one or more basic transcription factors.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

RNA polymerase II is responsible for transcribing mRNA in eukaryotic organisms, while RNA polymerase I transcribes rRNA and RNA polymerase III transcribes tRNA. a-amanitin efficiently interferes with the action of RNA polymerase II, but not RNA polymerase I or III, which explains why it blocks synthesis of mRNA but not of tRNA or rRNA.

Death Cap Mushrooms Produce a Substance Called - Amanitin