New toxin discovered Shiitake mushrooms are already world-famous for being tasty and nutritious, but their functional properties are still deeply shrouded in mystery. Researchers were exploring the components of shiitake mushrooms when they discovered a new toxin: edodin. - Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) Edodin is part of a class of compounds that can stop cells from making proteins, leading to cell death. They disable a cell’s ribosomes, which are responsible for creating proteins. Without protein production, the cell dies. - Um, shouldn’t we be worried? RIPs like edodin are a natural defense mechanism for plants, fungi, and bacteria. These compounds sound concerning but actually might be beneficial. - Sharpshooters RIPs kill cells very selectively. This makes them a potential targeted cancer therapy, where only specific cells are eradicated and healthy cells are spared. - Super picky Edodin is especially unique in that it only affects the ribosomes of mammals. This level of selectivity is rare in chemotherapy drugs, which often affect both cancerous and healthy tissues alike and lead to numerous side effects.