Enzymatic Synthesis of Psilocybin
Janis Fricke, Felix Blei, Dirk Hoffmeister
Angewandte Chemie International Edition August 1, 2017 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705489 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Laboratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Tryptamine Enzyme Biosynthesis Biochemistry Tryptophan Stereochemistry |
| Citations | 210 |
| Key points | Four enzymes—PsiD, PsiK, PsiM, and PsiH—catalyze the biosynthesis of psilocybin from L-tryptophan, and a combined PsiD/PsiK/PsiM reaction produces psilocybin from 4-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. |
Abstract
Abstract Psilocybin is the psychotropic tryptamine‐derived natural product of Psilocybe carpophores, the so‐called “magic mushrooms”. Although its structure has been known for 60 years, the enzymatic basis of its biosynthesis has remained obscure. We characterized four psilocybin biosynthesis enzymes, namely i) PsiD, which represents a new class of fungal l ‐tryptophan decarboxylases, ii) PsiK, which catalyzes the phosphotransfer step, iii) the methyltransferase PsiM, catalyzing iterative N‐methyl transfer as the terminal biosynthetic step, and iv) PsiH, a monooxygenase. In a combined PsiD/PsiK/PsiM reaction, psilocybin was synthesized enzymatically in a step‐economic route from 4‐hydroxy‐ l ‐tryptophan. Given the renewed pharmaceutical interest in psilocybin, our results may lay the foundation for its biotechnological production.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action Healthy human volunteers | 1998 | Experimental study | |
| Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin Participants in controlled laboratory experiments receiving a moderate to high oral... | 2015 | Validation study using pooled data from five laboratory experiments | n = 184 |
| Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State Healthy human participants | 2013 | Experimental study | |
| Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for psychiatric and existential distress in patients with life-threatening cancer Participants with cancer-related psychiatric distress who completed a parent randomized... | 2020 | Long-term within-subjects follow-up analysis | n = 15 |
| Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans Participants in a study on acute LSD effects | 2016 | Experimental study |
Citations in the library
Cited by 113
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin Molecules May 15, 2021
- Psilocybin: from ancient magic to modern medicine The Journal of Antibiotics May 12, 2020
- DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Psilocybin ACS Chemical Neuroscience June 29, 2018
- Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo production of psilocybin and related tryptamine derivatives Metabolic Engineering March 26, 2020
- Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased hallucinogenic mushroom diversity Evolution Letters February 27, 2018
and 108 more in the library
Cites 9
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Pilot study of the 5-HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction Journal of Psychopharmacology September 11, 2014
- Acute psychological and physiological effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a double-blind, placebo-controlled dose?effect study Psychopharmacology March 1, 2004
- Psilocybin und Psilocin, zwei psychotrope Wirkstoffe aus mexikanischen Rauschpilzen Helvetica Chimica Acta 1959
- Enzymatic Formation of Psychotomimetic Metabolites from Normally Occurring Compounds Science August 4, 1961
and 4 more in the library