• Erika3sis [she/her, xe/xem]
    ·
    edit-2
    7 months ago

    Amanita bisporigera, or the aptly named eastern North American destroying angel, if anyone's wondering.

    From Wikipedia:

    The principal amatoxin, α-amanitin, is readily absorbed across the intestine, and 60% of the absorbed toxin is excreted into bile and undergoes enterohepatic circulation; the kidneys clear the remaining 40%. The toxin inhibits the enzyme RNA polymerase II, thereby interfering with DNA transcription, which suppresses RNA production and protein synthesis. This causes cellular necrosis, especially in cells which are initially exposed and have rapid rates of protein synthesis. This process results in severe acute liver dysfunction and, ultimately, liver failure.

    I could not confirm that it causes liquefactive necrosis of the liver specifically, however. I wouldn't doubt it, but I couldn't confirm it.

    Edit: I should clarify, I got this from the original thread on Bluesky, not my own identification.