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Genetic Survey of Psilocybe Natural Products

Sebastian Dörner, Kai Rogge, Janis Fricke, Tim Schäfer, Jacob M. Wurlitzer, Markus Gressler, Duyen N. K. Pham, David R. Manke, Andrew R Chadeayne, Dirk Hoffmeister

ChemBioChem May 18, 2022 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200249 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Genomic analysis Peer reviewed
Population Five Psilocybe species (P. azurescens, P. cubensis, P. cyanescens, P. mexicana, and P. serbica)
Keywords Metabolome Natural product Metabolite Metabolomics
Citations 43
Key points The genomes of five Psilocybe species revealed a much greater and unexplored metabolic diversity than evident from chemical analyses, including identification of aeruginascin producers and detection of lumichrome and verpacamide A.

Abstract

Abstract Psilocybe magic mushrooms are best known for their main natural product, psilocybin, and its dephosphorylated congener, the psychedelic metabolite psilocin. Beyond tryptamines, the secondary metabolome of these fungi is poorly understood. The genomes of five species ( P. azurescens , P. cubensis , P. cyanescens , P. mexicana , and P. serbica ) were browsed to understand more profoundly common and species‐specific metabolic capacities. The genomic analyses revealed a much greater and yet unexplored metabolic diversity than evident from parallel chemical analyses. P. cyanescens and P. mexicana were identified as aeruginascin producers. Lumichrome and verpacamide A were also detected as Psilocybe metabolites. The observations concerning the potential secondary metabolome of this fungal genus support pharmacological and toxicological efforts to find a rational basis for yet elusive phenomena, such as paralytic effects, attributed to consumption of some magic mushrooms.

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