Lipid A
Lipid A is a component of a poison responsible for the “anchoring” of the toxin to the outer membrane of immune system cells. The poison reacts with the body's immune system, causing septic shock. It is found in endotoxins of toxic, gram-negative bacteria. We chose this lipid due to it’s toxicity and unique, simplistic name.
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
DHA is a lipid that acts as a structural component of the nervous system and regulates the transport of neurotransmitters. It’s found in the nervous system of Humans and other animals. We chose this lipid because of its criticality to human life.
Ricin
Ricin is a highly-lethal, toxic protein that naturally occurs in nature. It's toxicity is so high that only 1.78 mg of the molecule is enough to kill the average adult. Ricin prevents the assembly of various amino acids into functional proteins, effectively killing the organism subjected to it. Ricin is produced in the seeds of the castor oil plant. We choose ricin because of the popular culture surrounding the molecule and the high toxicity of it.
Xylose
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It is the main component of xylan, which makes up around 30% of some plants (such as birch trees). It is found in many plants, especially trees. It is also found in the embryos of many edible plants. We choose this molecule because of its unique name, and its occurrence in trees, which are essential to life on