The Discovery, Isolation, Elucidation of Structure, and Synthesis of Antamanide

Abstract

Abstract Antamanide is the name we have given to a constituent of the fungus Amanita phalloides. This substance counteracts the lethal action of the Amanita toxins phalloidine and α‐amanatine if administered to the white mouse before, or simultaneously with, the poisons. Its concentration in the fungus is, however, so low that the toxic action of the latter predominates. Antamanide is a cyclic decapeptide formed from the L ‐amino acids alanine, phenylalanine, proline, and valine in the molar ratio 1:4:4:1. The amino‐acid sequence was determined by a combination of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The structural formula assigned was confirmed by synthesis according to a classic route of peptide chemistry.