51
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Fricke J, Kargbo R, Regestein L, Lenz C, Peschel G, Rosenbaum MA, Sherwood A, Hoffmeister D. Scalable Hybrid Synthetic/Biocatalytic Route to Psilocybin. Chemistry 2020; 26:8281-8285. [PMID: 32101345 PMCID: PMC7383583 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202000134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Psilocybin, the principal indole alkaloid of Psilocybe mushrooms, is currently undergoing clinical trials as a medication against treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder. The psilocybin supply for pharmaceutical purposes is met by synthetic chemistry. We replaced the problematic phosphorylation step during synthesis with the mushroom kinase PsiK. This enzyme was biochemically characterized and used to produce one gram of psilocybin from psilocin within 20 minutes. We also describe a pilot-scale protocol for recombinant PsiK that yielded 150 mg enzyme in active and soluble form. Our work consolidates the simplicity of tryptamine chemistry with the specificity and selectivity of enzymatic catalysis and helps provide access to an important drug at potentially reasonable cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janis Fricke
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Robert Kargbo
- Usona Institute2780 Woods Hollow RoadMadisonWI53711USA
| | - Lars Regestein
- Bio Pilot PlantLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-InstituteBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Claudius Lenz
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Gundela Peschel
- Bio Pilot PlantLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-InstituteBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Miriam A. Rosenbaum
- Bio Pilot PlantLeibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-InstituteBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | | | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
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52
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Jones NS, Comparin JH. Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:608-669. [PMID: 33385148 PMCID: PMC7770462 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Comparin
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
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53
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Elliott SP, Holdbrook T, Brandt SD. Prodrugs of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): A New Challenge. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:913-920. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon P. Elliott
- Elliott Forensic Consulting Birmingham U.K
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences King’s College London London U.K
| | - Tanith Holdbrook
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences King’s College London London U.K
| | - Simon D. Brandt
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool U.K
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54
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Palamar JJ, Acosta P. A qualitative descriptive analysis of effects of psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines. Hum Psychopharmacol 2020; 35:e2719. [PMID: 31909513 PMCID: PMC6995261 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The number of novel psychedelic phenethylamines and tryptamines has continued to increase, but little academic research has focused on the effects of these substances. We sought to determine and compare the subjective effects of various substances. METHODS We conducted in-depth interviews with 39 adults (75.4% male and 87.2% White) who reported experience using psychedelic phenethylamines and/or tryptamines. Participants described the effects of compounds they have used. We examined the subjective drug effects in a qualitative descriptive manner. RESULTS Participants reported on the use of 36 compounds. The majority (64.1%) reported the use of 2C series drugs, with 2C-B use being most prevalent; 38.5% reported the use of NBOMe, and 25.6% reported the use of DOx. With regard to tryptamines, 46.2% reported use, and 4-AcO-DMT was the most prevalent drug used in this class. 2C-B was often described as being more favorable than other 2C series compounds with the effects described as being comparable with MDMA and LSD. NBOMe effects were generally described in an unfavorable manner, and the effects of DOx were often described as lasting too long (12-36 hr). The effects of 4-AcO-DMT were often described as mimicking psilocybin. CONCLUSION Knowing the effects of various compounds can inform education, prevention, and harm reduction efforts regarding the use of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. Palamar
- Department of Population HealthNew York University School of Medicine New York New York
| | - Patricia Acosta
- Department of Population HealthNew York University School of Medicine New York New York
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55
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Blei F, Dörner S, Fricke J, Baldeweg F, Trottmann F, Komor A, Meyer F, Hertweck C, Hoffmeister D. Simultaneous Production of Psilocybin and a Cocktail of β-Carboline Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors in "Magic" Mushrooms. Chemistry 2019; 26:729-734. [PMID: 31729089 PMCID: PMC7003923 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201904363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The psychotropic effects of Psilocybe “magic” mushrooms are caused by the l‐tryptophan‐derived alkaloid psilocybin. Despite their significance, the secondary metabolome of these fungi is poorly understood in general. Our analysis of four Psilocybe species identified harmane, harmine, and a range of other l‐tryptophan‐derived β‐carbolines as their natural products, which was confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Stable‐isotope labeling with 13C11‐l‐tryptophan verified the β‐carbolines as biosynthetic products of these fungi. In addition, MALDI‐MS imaging showed that β‐carbolines accumulate toward the hyphal apices. As potent inhibitors of monoamine oxidases, β‐carbolines are neuroactive compounds and interfere with psilocybin degradation. Therefore, our findings represent an unprecedented scenario of natural product pathways that diverge from the same building block and produce dissimilar compounds, yet contribute directly or indirectly to the same pharmacological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Blei
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich Schiller University, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dörner
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich Schiller University, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Janis Fricke
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich Schiller University, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Florian Baldeweg
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich Schiller University, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Felix Trottmann
- Department Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Anna Komor
- Department Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Florian Meyer
- Transfer Group Anti-Infectives, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product, Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural, Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich Schiller University, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
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Abbott KL, Flannery PC, Gill KS, Boothe DM, Dhanasekaran M, Mani S, Pondugula SR. Adverse pharmacokinetic interactions between illicit substances and clinical drugs. Drug Metab Rev 2019; 52:44-65. [PMID: 31826670 DOI: 10.1080/03602532.2019.1697283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Adverse pharmacokinetic interactions between illicit substances and clinical drugs are of a significant health concern. Illicit substances are taken by healthy individuals as well as by patients with medical conditions such as mental illnesses, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, diabetes mellitus and cancer. Many individuals that use illicit substances simultaneously take clinical drugs meant for targeted treatment. This concomitant usage can lead to life-threatening pharmacokinetic interactions between illicit substances and clinical drugs. Optimal levels and activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug-transporters are crucial for metabolism and disposition of illicit substances as well as clinical drugs. However, both illicit substances and clinical drugs can induce changes in the expression and/or activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug-transporters. Consequently, with concomitant usage, illicit substances can adversely influence the therapeutic outcome of coadministered clinical drugs. Likewise, clinical drugs can adversely affect the response of coadministered illicit substances. While the interactions between illicit substances and clinical drugs pose a tremendous health and financial burden, they lack a similar level of attention as drug-drug, food-drug, supplement-drug, herb-drug, disease-drug, or other substance-drug interactions such as alcohol-drug and tobacco-drug interactions. This review highlights the clinical pharmacokinetic interactions between clinical drugs and commonly used illicit substances such as cannabis, cocaine and 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Rigorous efforts are warranted to further understand the underlying mechanisms responsible for these clinical pharmacokinetic interactions. It is also critical to extend the awareness of the life-threatening adverse interactions to both health care professionals and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kodye L Abbott
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Patrick C Flannery
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO, USA
| | - Kristina S Gill
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Dawn M Boothe
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Muralikrishnan Dhanasekaran
- Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, AL, USA
| | - Sridhar Mani
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Satyanarayana R Pondugula
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.,Auburn University Research Initiative in Cancer, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
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57
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Poulie CBM, Jensen AA, Halberstadt AL, Kristensen JL. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: NBOMes. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 11:3860-3869. [PMID: 31657895 PMCID: PMC9191638 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
N-Benzylphenethylamines, commonly known as NBOMes, are synthetic psychedelic compounds derived from the phenethylamine class of psychedelics (2C-X compounds), which originally have been derived from the naturally occurring alkaloid mescaline. Analogously to their parent compounds and other classical psychedelics, such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), NBOMes are believed to exert their main pharmacological effects through activation of serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors. Since their introduction as New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) in 2010, NBOMes have been widely used for recreational purposes; this has resulted in numerous cases of acute toxicity, sometimes with lethal outcomes, leading to the classification of several NBOMes as Schedule I substances in 2013. However, in addition to their recreational use, the NBOMe class has yielded several important biochemical tools, including [11C]Cimbi-36, which is now being used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors in the mammalian brain, and 25CN-NBOH, one of the most selective 5-HT2A receptor agonists developed to date. In this Review, the history, chemistry, structure-activity relationships, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, and safety profiles of NBOMes will be outlined and discussed.
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58
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Kuypers KPC, Ng L, Erritzoe D, Knudsen GM, Nichols CD, Nichols DE, Pani L, Soula A, Nutt D. Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research. J Psychopharmacol 2019; 33:1039-1057. [PMID: 31303095 PMCID: PMC6732823 DOI: 10.1177/0269881119857204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past few years, the issue of 'microdosing' psychedelics has been openly discussed in the public arena where claims have been made about their positive effect on mood state and cognitive processes such as concentration. However, there are very few scientific studies that have specifically addressed this issue, and there is no agreed scientific consensus on what microdosing is. AIM This critique paper is designed to address questions that need to be answered by future scientific studies and to offer guidelines for these studies. APPROACH Owing to its proximity for a possible approval in clinical use and short-lasting pharmacokinetics, our focus is predominantly on psilocybin. Psilocybin is allegedly, next to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), one of the two most frequently used psychedelics to microdose. Where relevant and available, data for other psychedelic drugs are also mentioned. CONCLUSION It is concluded that while most anecdotal reports focus on the positive experiences with microdosing, future research should also focus on potential risks of (multiple) administrations of a psychedelic in low doses. To that end, (pre)clinical studies including biological (e.g. heart rate, receptor turnover and occupancy) as well as cognitive (e.g. memory, attention) parameters have to be conducted and will shed light on the potential negative consequences microdosing could have.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim PC Kuypers
- Department of Neuropsychology and
Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University,
Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Livia Ng
- Department of Psychology, University
College London, London, UK
| | - David Erritzoe
- Department of Psychology,
Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit,
Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charles D Nichols
- Department of Pharmacology and
Experimental Therapeutics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New
Orleans, LA, USA
| | - David E Nichols
- Purdue University College of Pharmacy,
West Lafayette, LA, USA
| | - Luca Pani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Psychiatry University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic
& Neural Sciences, University of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - David Nutt
- Neuropsychopharmacology, Imperial
College London, London, UK
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