Angewandte Chemie International Edition
November 14, 2019
Claudius Lenz, Jonas Wick, Daniel Braga et al.
56 citations
Abstract Upon injury, psychotropic psilocybin‐producing mushrooms instantly develop an intense blue color, the chemical basis and mode of formation of which has remained elusive. We report two enzymes from Psilocybe cubensis that carry out a two‐step cascade to prepare psilocybin for oxidative oligomerization that leads to blue products. The phosphatase PsiP removes the 4‐ O ‐phosphate group to...
ChemBioChem
August 11, 2018
Felix Blei, Janis Fricke, Jonas Wick et al.
31 citations
Abstract Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their l ‐tryptophan‐derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. Dimethylation of norbaeocystin, the precursor of psilocybin, by the enzyme PsiM is a critical step during the biosynthesis of psilocybin. However, the “magic” mushroom Psilocybe serbica also mono‐ and dimethylates l ‐tryptophan, which is incompatible with the specificity of PsiM. Here,...
Chemistry - A European Journal
July 16, 2018
Janis Fricke, Claudius Lenz, Jonas Wick et al.
52 citations
Abstract The fungal genus Psilocybe and other genera comprise numerous mushroom species that biosynthesize psilocybin (4‐phosphoryloxy‐ N , N ‐dimethyltryptamine). It represents the prodrug to its dephosphorylated psychotropic analogue, psilocin. The colloquial term “magic mushrooms” for these fungi alludes to their hallucinogenic effects and to their use as recreational drugs. However,...
Journal of Natural Products
September 20, 2017
Claudius Lenz, Jonas Wick, Dirk Hoffmeister
62 citations
We report the identification of ω-N-methyl-4-hydroxytryptamine (norpsilocin, 1) from the carpophores of the hallucinogenic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis. The structure was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Norpsilocin has not previously been reported as a natural product. It likely represents the actual psychotropic agent liberated from its...