A universal method for the identification of genes encoding amatoxins and phallotoxins in poisonous mushrooms

As the currently known diagnostic DNA targets amplified in the PCR assays for detection of poisonous mushrooms have their counterparts in edible species, there is a need to design PCR primers specific to the genes encoding amanitins and phallotoxins, which occur only in poisonous mushrooms.The aim of the study was testing of PCR-based method for detection of all genes encoding hepatotoxic cyclic peptides - amanitins and phallotoxins present in the most dangerous poisonous mushrooms.Degenerate primers in the PCR were designed on the basis of amanitins (n=13) and phallotoxins (n=5) genes in 18 species of poisonous mushrooms deposited to Genbank of the National Center for Biotechnology Information.The specificity of the PCR assays was confirmed against 9 species of edible mushrooms, death cap - Amanita phalloides and panther cap - Amanita pantherina.Designed two couples of PCR-primers specific to amanitins and phallotoxins genes can be recommended for detection of Amanita phalloides and other mushroom species producing hepatotoxic cyclic peptides - amanitins and phallotoxins.