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, A.r. Chadeayne, Dirk Hoffmeister
ChemBioChem May 18, 2022 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200249 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPsilocybe magic mushrooms are best known for producing psilocybin and psilocin, but their broader secondary metabolome is poorly understood. Genomes of five species (P. azurescens, P. cubensis, P. cyanescens, P. mexicana, and P. serbica) revealed much greater and unexplored metabolic diversity than chemical analyses alone. P. cyanescens and P. mexicana were identified as aeruginascin producers. Lumichrome and verpacamide A were also detected as Psilocybe metabolites. These findings support efforts to understand phenomena like paralytic effects attributed to some magic mushrooms.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Genomic analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Five Psilocybe species (P. azurescens, P. cubensis, P. cyanescens, P. mexicana, and P. serbica) |
| Keywords | Metabolome Biology Natural product Metabolite Metabolomics |
| Citations | 43 |
| Key finding | 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.