The death cap mushroom, amanita phalloides, contains several dangerous substances, including the lethal α-amanitin. this toxin blocks rna elongation in consumers of the mushroom by binding to eukaryotic rna polymerase ii with very high affinity; it is deadly in concentrations as low as 10-8 u. the initial reaction to ingestion of the mushroom is gastrointestinal distress (caused by some of the other toxins). these symptoms disappear, but about 48 hours later, the mushroom-eater dies, usually from liver dysfunction. speculate on why it takes this long for α-amanitin to kill. (3)