Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased hallucinogenic mushroom diversity
Evolution Letters February 27, 2018 Hannah T. Reynolds, Vinod Vijayakumar, Emile Gluck‐thaler et al. 114 citations
Abstract Secondary metabolites are a heterogeneous class of chemicals that often mediate interactions between species. The tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite, psilocin, is a serotonin receptor agonist that induces altered states of consciousness. A phylogenetically disjunct group of mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales produce the psilocin prodrug, psilocybin. Spotty phylogenetic...