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Junges LH, Müller-Santos M. Exploring the biocatalysis of psilocybin and other tryptamines: Enzymatic pathways, synthetic strategies, and industrial implications. Biotechnol Prog 2024:e3513. [PMID: 39366919 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024]
Abstract
Tryptamines play diverse roles as neurotransmitters and psychoactive compounds found in various organisms. Psilocybin, a notable tryptamine, has garnered attention for its therapeutic potential in treating mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Despite its promising applications, current extraction methods for psilocybin are labor-intensive and economically limiting. We suggest biocatalysis as a sustainable alternative, leveraging enzymes to synthesize psilocybin and other tryptamines efficiently. By elucidating psilocybin biosynthesis pathways, researchers aim to advance synthetic methodologies and industrial applications. This review underscores the transformative potential of biocatalysis in enhancing our understanding of tryptamine biosynthesis and facilitating the production of high-purity psilocybin and other tryptamines for therapeutic and research use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Henrique Junges
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Müller-Santos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
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2
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Konkel Z, Kubatko L, Slot JC. CLOCI: unveiling cryptic fungal gene clusters with generalized detection. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:e75. [PMID: 39016185 PMCID: PMC11381361 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene clusters are genomic loci that contain multiple genes that are functionally and genetically linked. Gene clusters collectively encode diverse functions, including small molecule biosynthesis, nutrient assimilation, metabolite degradation, and production of proteins essential for growth and development. Identifying gene clusters is a powerful tool for small molecule discovery and provides insight into the ecology and evolution of organisms. Current detection algorithms focus on canonical 'core' biosynthetic functions many gene clusters encode, while overlooking uncommon or unknown cluster classes. These overlooked clusters are a potential source of novel natural products and comprise an untold portion of overall gene cluster repertoires. Unbiased, function-agnostic detection algorithms therefore provide an opportunity to reveal novel classes of gene clusters and more precisely define genome organization. We present CLOCI (Co-occurrence Locus and Orthologous Cluster Identifier), an algorithm that identifies gene clusters using multiple proxies of selection for coordinated gene evolution. Our approach generalizes gene cluster detection and gene cluster family circumscription, improves detection of multiple known functional classes, and unveils non-canonical gene clusters. CLOCI is suitable for genome-enabled small molecule mining, and presents an easily tunable approach for delineating gene cluster families and homologous loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Konkel
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Laura Kubatko
- Department of Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Statistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jason C Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Center for Applied Plant Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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3
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Harder CB, Miyauchi S, Virágh M, Kuo A, Thoen E, Andreopoulos B, Lu D, Skrede I, Drula E, Henrissat B, Morin E, Kohler A, Barry K, LaButti K, Salamov A, Lipzen A, Merényi Z, Hegedüs B, Baldrian P, Stursova M, Weitz H, Taylor A, Koriabine M, Savage E, Grigoriev IV, Nagy LG, Martin F, Kauserud H. Extreme overall mushroom genome expansion in Mycena s.s. irrespective of plant hosts or substrate specializations. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100586. [PMID: 38942024 PMCID: PMC11293592 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Mycena s.s. is a ubiquitous mushroom genus whose members degrade multiple dead plant substrates and opportunistically invade living plant roots. Having sequenced the nuclear genomes of 24 Mycena species, we find them to defy the expected patterns for fungi based on both their traditionally perceived saprotrophic ecology and substrate specializations. Mycena displayed massive genome expansions overall affecting all gene families, driven by novel gene family emergence, gene duplications, enlarged secretomes encoding polysaccharide degradation enzymes, transposable element (TE) proliferation, and horizontal gene transfers. Mainly due to TE proliferation, Arctic Mycena species display genomes of up to 502 Mbp (2-8× the temperate Mycena), the largest among mushroom-forming Agaricomycetes, indicating a possible evolutionary convergence to genomic expansions sometimes seen in Arctic plants. Overall, Mycena show highly unusual, varied mosaic-like genomic structures adaptable to multiple lifestyles, providing genomic illustration for the growing realization that fungal niche adaptations can be far more fluid than traditionally believed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Bugge Harder
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway; Department of Biology, Microbial Ecology Group, Biology Department, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; University of Copenhagen, Department of Biology, Section of Terrestrial Ecology, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Shingo Miyauchi
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan; Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Máté Virágh
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, HUN-REN Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Alan Kuo
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ella Thoen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Bill Andreopoulos
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Dabao Lu
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Skrede
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Elodie Drula
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France; INRAE, UMR 1163, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), CNRS, Aix Marseille Université, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Emmanuelle Morin
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Annegret Kohler
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France
| | - Kerrie Barry
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kurt LaButti
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Asaf Salamov
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Zsolt Merényi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, HUN-REN Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Botond Hegedüs
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, HUN-REN Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Petr Baldrian
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Stursova
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, 14220 Prague 4, Czech Republic
| | - Hedda Weitz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Andy Taylor
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK; The James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Maxim Koriabine
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Emily Savage
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - László G Nagy
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, HUN-REN Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Francis Martin
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR Interactions Arbres/Microorganismes, Centre INRAE Grand Est Nancy, 54280 Champenoux, France.
| | - Håvard Kauserud
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Box 1066 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
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Li Z, Jiao Y, Ling J, Zhao J, Yang Y, Mao Z, Zhou K, Wang W, Xie B, Li Y. Characterization of a methyltransferase for iterative N-methylation at the leucinostatin termini in Purpureocillium lilacinum. Commun Biol 2024; 7:757. [PMID: 38909167 PMCID: PMC11193748 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06467-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
N-methyltransferase (NMT)-catalyzed methylation at the termini of nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) has rarely been reported. Here, we discover a fungal NMT LcsG for the iterative terminal N-methylation of a family of NRPs, leucinostatins. Gene deletion results suggest that LcsG is essential for leucinostatins methylation. Results from in vitro assays and HRESI-MS-MS analysis reveal the methylation sites as NH2, NHCH3 and N(CH3)2 in the C-terminus of various leucinostatins. LcsG catalysis yields new lipopeptides, some of which demonstrate effective antibiotic properties against the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans and the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Multiple sequence alignments and site-directed mutagenesis of LcsG indicate the presence of a highly conserved SAM-binding pocket, along with two possible active site residues (D368 and D395). Molecular dynamics simulations show that the targeted N can dock between these two residues. Thus, this study suggests a method for increasing the variety of natural bioactivity of NPRs and a possible catalytic mechanism underlying the N-methylation of NRPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
- Microbial Processes and Interactions (MiPI), TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Yang Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Jianlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenchuan Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Kaixiang Zhou
- Center for Advanced Materials Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China
| | - Wenzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Bingyan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China.
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100081, Beijing, China.
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5
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Kanis FC, Broude CN, Hellwarth EB, Gibbons WJ, Sen AK, Adams AM, Wang X, Jones JA. Evaluation of TrpM and PsiD substrate promiscuity reveals new biocatalytic capabilities. Biotechnol Prog 2024:e3492. [PMID: 38888046 DOI: 10.1002/btpr.3492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
N-methylated tryptamines, such as the hallucinogenic natural products, psilocybin and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are gaining interest from the medical community due to their potential as next generation treatments for mental health disorders. The clinical relevance of these compounds has driven scientists to develop biosynthetic production routes to a number of tryptamine drug candidates, and efforts are ongoing to expand and further develop these biosynthetic capabilities. To that end, we have further characterized the substrate preferences of two enzymes involved in tryptamine biosynthesis: TrpM, a tryptophan N-methyltransferase from Psilocybe serbica, and PsiD, the gateway decarboxylase of the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway. Here, we show that TrpM can N-methylate the non-native amino acid substrate, 4-hydroxytryptophan, a key intermediate in the Escherichia coli-based recombinant psilocybin biosynthesis pathway. However, the ability to incorporate TrpM into a functional psilocybin biosynthesis pathway was thwarted by PsiD's inability to use N,N-dimethyl-4-hydroxytryptophan as substrate, under the culturing conditions tested, despite demonstrating activity on N-methylated and 4-hydroxylated tryptophan derivatives individually. Taken together, this work expands upon the known substrates for TrpM and PsiD, further increasing the diversity of tryptamine biosynthetic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona C Kanis
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Caroline N Broude
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elle B Hellwarth
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - William J Gibbons
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Abhishek K Sen
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexandra M Adams
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - J Andrew Jones
- Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
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6
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Seibold PS, Dörner S, Fricke J, Schäfer T, Beemelmanns C, Hoffmeister D. Genetic regulation of L-tryptophan metabolism in Psilocybe mexicana supports psilocybin biosynthesis. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2024; 11:4. [PMID: 38664850 PMCID: PMC11046786 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-024-00173-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although Basidiomycota produce pharmaceutically and ecologically relevant natural products, knowledge of how they coordinate their primary and secondary metabolism is virtually non-existent. Upon transition from vegetative mycelium to carpophore formation, mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe use L-tryptophan to supply the biosynthesis of the psychedelic tryptamine alkaloid psilocybin with the scaffold, leading to a strongly increased demand for this particular amino acid as this alkaloid may account for up to 2% of the dry mass. Using Psilocybe mexicana as our model and relying on genetic, transcriptomic, and biochemical methods, this study investigated if L-tryptophan biosynthesis and degradation in P. mexicana correlate with natural product formation. RESULTS A comparative transcriptomic approach of gene expression in P. mexicana psilocybin non-producing vegetative mycelium versus producing carpophores identified the upregulation of L-tryptophan biosynthesis genes. The shikimate pathway genes trpE1, trpD, and trpB (encoding anthranilate synthase, anthranilate phosphoribosyltransferase, and L-tryptophan synthase, respectively) were upregulated in carpophores. In contrast, genes idoA and iasA, encoding indole-2,3-dioxygenase and indole-3-acetaldehyde synthase, i.e., gateway enzymes for L-tryptophan-consuming pathways, were massively downregulated. Subsequently, IasA was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized in vitro. This enzyme represents the first characterized microbial L-tryptophan-preferring acetaldehyde synthase. A comparison of transcriptomic data collected in this study with prior data of Psilocybe cubensis showed species-specific differences in how L-tryptophan metabolism genes are regulated, despite the close taxonomic relationship. CONCLUSIONS The upregulated L-tryptophan biosynthesis genes and, oppositely, the concomitant downregulated genes encoding L-tryptophan-consuming enzymes reflect a well-adjusted cellular system to route this amino acid toward psilocybin production. Our study has pilot character beyond the genus Psilocybe and provides, for the first time, insight in the coordination of mushroom primary and secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Sophie Seibold
- Institute for Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dörner
- Institute for Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Janis Fricke
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Tim Schäfer
- Institute for Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Institute for Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstr. 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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7
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Sang M, Feng P, Chi LP, Zhang W. The biosynthetic logic and enzymatic machinery of approved fungi-derived pharmaceuticals and agricultural biopesticides. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:565-603. [PMID: 37990930 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00040k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 to 2023The kingdom Fungi has become a remarkably valuable source of structurally complex natural products (NPs) with diverse bioactivities. Since the revolutionary discovery and application of the antibiotic penicillin from Penicillium, a number of fungi-derived NPs have been developed and approved into pharmaceuticals and pesticide agents using traditional "activity-guided" approaches. Although emerging genome mining algorithms and surrogate expression hosts have brought revolutionary approaches to NP discovery, the time and costs involved in developing these into new drugs can still be prohibitively high. Therefore, it is essential to maximize the utility of existing drugs by rational design and systematic production of new chemical structures based on these drugs by synthetic biology. To this purpose, there have been great advances in characterizing the diversified biosynthetic gene clusters associated with the well-known drugs and in understanding the biosynthesis logic mechanisms and enzymatic transformation processes involved in their production. We describe advances made in the heterogeneous reconstruction of complex NP scaffolds using fungal polyketide synthases (PKSs), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), PKS/NRPS hybrids, terpenoids, and indole alkaloids and also discuss mechanistic insights into metabolic engineering, pathway reprogramming, and cell factory development. Moreover, we suggest pathways for expanding access to the fungal chemical repertoire by biosynthesis of representative family members via common platform intermediates and through the rational manipulation of natural biosynthetic machineries for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moli Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Peiyuan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Lu-Ping Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
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8
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Kraisitudomsook N, Ahrendt S, Riley R, LaButti K, Lipzen A, Daum C, Barry K, Grigoriev IV, Rämä T, Martin F, Smith ME. On the origin of bird's nest fungi: Phylogenomic analyses of fungi in the Nidulariaceae (Agaricales, Basidiomycota). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 193:108010. [PMID: 38195011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Nidulariaceae, also known as bird's nest fungi, is an understudied group of mushroom-forming fungi. The common name is derived from their nest-like morphology. Bird's nest fungi are ubiquitous wood decomposers or saprobes on dung. Recent studies showed that species in the Nidulariaceae form a monophyletic group with five sub-clades. However, phylogenetic relationships among genera and placement of Nidulariaceae are still unclear. We present phylogenomic analyses of bird's nest fungi and related Agaricales fungi to gain insight into the evolution of Nidulariaceae. A species tree with 17 newly generated genomes of bird's nest fungi and representatives from all major clades of Agaricales was constructed using 1044 single-copy genes to explore the intergeneric relationships and pinpoint the placement of Nidulariaceae within Agaricales. We corroborated the hypothesis that bird's nest fungi are sister to Squamanitaceae, which includes mushroom-shaped fungi with a stipe and pileus that are saprobes and mycoparasites. Lastly, stochastic character mapping of discrete traits on phylogenies (SIMMAP) suggests that the ancestor of bird's nest fungi likely possessed an evanescent, globose peridium without strings attaching to the spore packets (funiculi). This analysis suggests that the funiculus was gained twice and that the persistent, cupulate peridium form was gained at least four times and lost once. However, alternative coding schemes and datasets with a wider array of Agaricales produced conflicting results during ancestral state reconstruction, indicating that there is some uncertainty in the number of peridium transitions and that taxon sampling may significantly alter ancestral state reconstructions. Overall, our results suggest that several key morphological characters of Nidulariaceae have been subject to homoplasy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattapol Kraisitudomsook
- Plant Pathology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA; Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Muban Chombueng Rajabhat University, Ratchaburi 70150, Thailand.
| | - Steven Ahrendt
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Robert Riley
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kurt LaButti
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anna Lipzen
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Chris Daum
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kerrie Barry
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- U.S Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, 110 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Teppo Rämä
- The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø N-9037, Norway
| | - Francis Martin
- University of Lorraine, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), Tree-Microbe Interactions Department, Champenoux 54280, France.
| | - Matthew E Smith
- Plant Pathology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF-IFAS), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32607, USA.
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9
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Hudspeth J, Rogge K, Dörner S, Müll M, Hoffmeister D, Rupp B, Werten S. Methyl transfer in psilocybin biosynthesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2709. [PMID: 38548735 PMCID: PMC10978996 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46997-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Psilocybin, the natural hallucinogen produced by Psilocybe ("magic") mushrooms, holds great promise for the treatment of depression and several other mental health conditions. The final step in the psilocybin biosynthetic pathway, dimethylation of the tryptophan-derived intermediate norbaeocystin, is catalysed by PsiM. Here we present atomic resolution (0.9 Å) crystal structures of PsiM trapped at various stages of its reaction cycle, providing detailed insight into the SAM-dependent methylation mechanism. Structural and phylogenetic analyses suggest that PsiM derives from epitranscriptomic N6-methyladenosine writers of the METTL16 family, which is further supported by the observation that bound substrates physicochemically mimic RNA. Inherent limitations of the ancestral monomethyltransferase scaffold hamper the efficiency of psilocybin assembly and leave PsiM incapable of catalysing trimethylation to aeruginascin. The results of our study will support bioengineering efforts aiming to create novel variants of psilocybin with improved therapeutic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Hudspeth
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Kai Rogge
- Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute of Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dörner
- Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute of Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Maximilian Müll
- Research Group Biosynthetic Design of Natural Products, Leibniz Institute of Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute of Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Rupp
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- k.-k. Hofkristallamt, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sebastiaan Werten
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
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10
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Neumann J, Dhein S, Kirchhefer U, Hofmann B, Gergs U. Effects of hallucinogenic drugs on the human heart. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1334218. [PMID: 38370480 PMCID: PMC10869618 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1334218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hallucinogenic drugs are used because they have effects on the central nervous system. Their hallucinogenic effects probably occur via stimulation of serotonin receptors, namely, 5-HT2A-serotonin receptors in the brain. However, a close study reveals that they also act on the heart, possibly increasing the force of contraction and beating rate and may lead to arrhythmias. Here, we will review the inotropic and chronotropic actions of bufotenin, psilocin, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ergotamine, ergometrine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the human heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Neumann
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Stefan Dhein
- Rudolf-Boehm Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Kirchhefer
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Britt Hofmann
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Ulrich Gergs
- Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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11
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Foster K, Morrison I, Tyler M, Delgoda R. The effect of casing and gypsum on the yield and psychoactive tryptamine content of Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer. Fungal Biol 2024; 128:1590-1595. [PMID: 38341264 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic fungi have experienced a surge in interest in recent years. Most notably, the fungal secondary metabolite psilocybin has shown tremendous promise in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders. The mushroom species that produce this molecule are poorly understood. Here we sought to examine for the first time, the response of a psilocybin-producing species Psilocybe cubensis to casing (peat moss and vermiculite) and supplementation with gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate), two common practices in commercial mushroom cultivation. Mycelial samples of genetically authenticated P. cubensis were used to inoculate popcorn grain bags. The fully colonized bags of popcorn grain (0.15 kg) were transferred to bins of 0.85 kg pasteurized horse manure, with or without 1 cm thick layer of casing and/or 5 % gypsum. Our results indicate that the use of a casing layer significantly increases the biological efficiency (161.5 %), by approximately four fold, in comparison to control (40.5 %), albeit with a slight delay (∼2 days) for obtaining fruiting bodies and a somewhat reduced total tryptamine content (0.85 %) as gauged by High Performance Liquid Chromatography measurements. Supplementation with both casing and gypsum, however, appears to promote maximal yields (896.6 g/kg of dried substrate), with a biological efficiency of 89.6 %, while also maintaining high total tryptamine expressions (0.95 %). These findings, revealing methods for maximizing yield of harvest and expressions of psychoactive tryptamines, may prove useful for both home growers and commercial cultivators of this species, and ultimately support the growth of a robust industry with high quality natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley Foster
- Natural Products Institute, 6 Belmopan Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica; Future Wellness (formerly Field Trip Natural Products), 2 St. George's Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Isaac Morrison
- Natural Products Institute, 6 Belmopan Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica; Future Wellness (formerly Field Trip Natural Products), 2 St. George's Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Marshall Tyler
- Future Wellness (formerly Field Trip Natural Products), 2 St. George's Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica
| | - Rupika Delgoda
- Natural Products Institute, 6 Belmopan Close, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.
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12
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Bradshaw AJ, Ramírez-Cruz V, Awan AR, Furci G, Guzmán-Dávalos L, Dentinger BTM. Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311245121. [PMID: 38194448 PMCID: PMC10801892 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311245121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychoactive mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe have immense cultural value and have been used for centuries in Mesoamerica. Despite the recent surge of interest in these mushrooms due to the psychotherapeutic potential of their natural alkaloid psilocybin, their phylogeny and taxonomy remain substantially incomplete. Moreover, the recent elucidation of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster is known for only five of ~165 species of Psilocybe, four of which belong to only one of two major clades. We set out to improve the phylogeny of Psilocybe using shotgun sequencing of fungarium specimens, from which we obtained 71 metagenomes including from 23 types, and conducting phylogenomic analysis of 2,983 single-copy gene families to generate a fully supported phylogeny. Molecular clock analysis suggests the stem lineage of Psilocybe arose ~67 mya and diversified ~56 mya. We also show that psilocybin biosynthesis first arose in Psilocybe, with 4 to 5 possible horizontal transfers to other mushrooms between 40 and 9 mya. Moreover, predicted orthologs of the psilocybin biosynthetic genes revealed two distinct gene orders within the biosynthetic gene cluster that corresponds to a deep split within the genus, possibly a signature of two independent acquisitions of the cluster within Psilocybe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. Bradshaw
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
- Natural History Museum of Utah, Collections and Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84108
| | - Virginia Ramírez-Cruz
- Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT), Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan45147, Mexico
| | - Ali R. Awan
- Genomics Innovation Unit, Guy’s and St.Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas’ Hospital, LondonSE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Laura Guzmán-Dávalos
- Departamento de Botánica y Zoología, Universidad de Guadalajara, Zapopan45147, Mexico
| | - Bryn T. M. Dentinger
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84112
- Natural History Museum of Utah, Collections and Research, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT84108
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13
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Zhang XL, Wang MY, Liu HJ, Wang YQ. Palladium-Catalyzed Regioselective C4-H Acyloxylation of Indoles with Carboxylic Acids via a Transient Directing Groups Strategy. Org Lett 2024; 26:41-45. [PMID: 38149590 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The development of an efficient method for the synthesis of C4 oxy-substituted indoles is an appealing yet challenging task. Herein, we report a general palladium-catalyzed TDG approach for the direct C4-H acyloxylation of indoles. The protocol features atom and step economy, excellent regioselectivity, and good tolerance of functional groups. Moreover, the reaction can accommodate a range of carboxylic acids including benzoic acids, phenylacetic acids, and aliphatic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Long Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Low Metamorphic Coal Clean Utilization, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yulin University, Yulin 719000, Shaanxi, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P.R. China
| | - Meng-Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P.R. China
| | - Hui-Jin Liu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Low Metamorphic Coal Clean Utilization, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Yulin University, Yulin 719000, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Yong-Qiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, P.R. China
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14
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Cox RJ. Engineered and total biosynthesis of fungal specialized metabolites. Nat Rev Chem 2024; 8:61-78. [PMID: 38172201 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-023-00564-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi produce a very wide range of complex and often bioactive metabolites, demonstrating their inherent ability as hosts of complex biosynthetic pathways. Recent advances in molecular sciences related to fungi have afforded the development of new tools that allow the rational total biosynthesis of highly complex specialized metabolites in a single process. Increasingly, these pathways can also be engineered to produce new metabolites. Engineering can be at the level of gene deletion, gene addition, formation of mixed pathways, engineering of scaffold synthases and engineering of tailoring enzymes. Combination of these approaches with hosts that can metabolize low-value waste streams opens the prospect of one-step syntheses from garbage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell J Cox
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and BMWZ, Leibniz University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
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15
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Shah FI, Shehzadi S, Akram F, Haq IU, Javed B, Sabir S, Kazim Y, Ashfaq S. Unveiling the Psychedelic Journey: An Appraisal of Psilocybin as a Profound Antidepressant Therapy. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00994-7. [PMID: 38117395 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00994-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Depression, a global health concern with significant implications for suicide rates, remains challenging to treat effectively with conventional pharmacological options. The existing pharmaceutical interventions for these illnesses need daily dosing, are accompanied by various adverse effects, and may exhibit limited efficacy in certain cases. However, hope emerges from an unlikely source-Psilocybin, a natural hallucinogen found in certain mushrooms. Recently, this enigmatic compound has garnered attention for its potential therapeutic benefits in addressing various mental health issues, including depression. Psilocybin alters mood, cognition, and perception by acting on a particular subtype of serotonin receptors in the brain. It's feasible that these shifts in consciousness will promote healing development, offering a novel approach to depression management. This comprehensive review explores psilocybin, derived from specific mushrooms, and its implications in the treatment of depression. The study examines new perspectives and therapeutic possibilities surrounding psilocybin, addressing existing gaps in academic literature. It delves into its biosynthesis, unique mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, and anti-depressive effects. By uncovering the potential of this mind-altering substance, the review aims to advance psychiatric care, offering hope to those globally affected by depression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fatima Akram
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
| | - Ikram Ul Haq
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
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16
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McTaggart AR, McLaughlin S, Slot JC, McKernan K, Appleyard C, Bartlett TL, Weinert M, Barlow C, Warne LN, Shuey LS, Drenth A, James TY. Domestication through clandestine cultivation constrained genetic diversity in magic mushrooms relative to naturalized populations. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5147-5159.e7. [PMID: 38052161 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Fungi that are edible or fermentative were domesticated through selective cultivation of their desired traits. Domestication is often associated with inbreeding or selfing, which may fix traits other than those under selection, and causes an overall decrease in heterozygosity. A hallucinogenic mushroom, Psilocybe cubensis, was domesticated from its niche in livestock dung for production of psilocybin. It has caused accidental poisonings since the 1940s in Australia, which is a population hypothesized to be introduced from an unknown center of origin. We sequenced genomes of 38 isolates from Australia and compared them with 86 genomes of commercially available cultivars to determine (1) whether P. cubensis was introduced to Australia, and (2) how domestication has impacted commercial cultivars. Our analyses of genome-wide SNPs and single-copy orthologs showed that the Australian population is naturalized, having recovered its effective population size after a bottleneck when it was introduced, and it has maintained relatively high genetic diversity based on measures of nucleotide and allelic diversity. In contrast, domesticated cultivars generally have low effective population sizes and hallmarks of selfing and clonal propagation, including low genetic diversity, low heterozygosity, high linkage disequilibrium, and low allelic diversity of mating-compatibility genes. Analyses of kinship show that most cultivars are founded from related populations. Alleles in the psilocybin gene cluster are identical across most cultivars of P. cubensis with low diversity across coding sequence; however, unique allelic diversity in Australia and some cultivars may translate to differences in biosynthesis of psilocybin and its analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair R McTaggart
- Centre for Horticultural Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia; Funky Fungus, Burpengary, QLD 4505, Australia.
| | | | - Jason C Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kevin McKernan
- Research and Development, Medicinal Genomics, Beverly, MA 01915, USA
| | | | - Tia L Bartlett
- Centre for Horticultural Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Matthew Weinert
- Entheogenesis Australis, PO Box 2046, Belgrave, 3160 VIC, Australia
| | - Caine Barlow
- Entheogenesis Australis, PO Box 2046, Belgrave, 3160 VIC, Australia
| | - Leon N Warne
- Little Green Pharma, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia
| | - Louise S Shuey
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - André Drenth
- Centre for Horticultural Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Timothy Y James
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
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17
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Pepe M, Hesami M, de la Cerda KA, Perreault ML, Hsiang T, Jones AMP. A journey with psychedelic mushrooms: From historical relevance to biology, cultivation, medicinal uses, biotechnology, and beyond. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108247. [PMID: 37659744 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
Psychedelic mushrooms containing psilocybin and related tryptamines have long been used for ethnomycological purposes, but emerging evidence points to the potential therapeutic value of these mushrooms to address modern neurological, psychiatric health, and related disorders. As a result, psilocybin containing mushrooms represent a re-emerging frontier for mycological, biochemical, neuroscience, and pharmacology research. This work presents crucial information related to traditional use of psychedelic mushrooms, as well as research trends and knowledge gaps related to their diversity and distribution, technologies for quantification of tryptamines and other tryptophan-derived metabolites, as well as biosynthetic mechanisms for their production within mushrooms. In addition, we explore the current state of knowledge for how psilocybin and related tryptamines are metabolized in humans and their pharmacological effects, including beneficial and hazardous human health implications. Finally, we describe opportunities and challenges for investigating the production of psychedelic mushrooms and metabolic engineering approaches to alter secondary metabolite profiles using biotechnology integrated with machine learning. Ultimately, this critical review of all aspects related to psychedelic mushrooms represents a roadmap for future research efforts that will pave the way to new applications and refined protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pepe
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Guelph, Canada
| | - Mohsen Hesami
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Guelph, Canada
| | - Karla A de la Cerda
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Guelph, Canada
| | - Melissa L Perreault
- Departments of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Guelph, Canada
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18
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Miller DR, Jacobs JT, Rockefeller A, Singer H, Bollinger IM, Conway J, Slot JC, Cliffel DE. Cultivation, chemistry, and genome of Psilocybe zapotecorum. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.01.564784. [PMID: 37961470 PMCID: PMC10635036 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.01.564784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Psilocybe zapotecorum is a strongly blue-bruising psilocybin mushroom used by indigenous groups in southeastern Mexico and beyond. While this species has a rich history of ceremonial use, research into its chemistry and genetics have been limited. Herein, we detail mushroom morphology and report on cultivation parameters, chemical profile, and the full genome sequence of P. zapotecorum . First, growth and cloning methods are detailed that are simple, and reproducible. In combination with high resolution microscopic analysis, the strain was barcoded, confirming species-level identification. Full genome sequencing reveals the architecture of the psilocybin gene cluster in P. zapotecorum, and can serve as a reference genome for Psilocybe Clade I. Characterization of the tryptamine profile revealed a psilocybin concentration of 17.9±1.7 mg/g, with a range of 10.6-25.7 mg/g (n=7), and similar tryptamines (psilocin, baeocystin, norbaeocystin, norpsilocin, aeruginascin, 4-HO-tryptamine, and tryptamine) in lesser concentrations for a combined tryptamine concentration of 22.5±3.2 mg/g. These results show P. zapotecorum to be a potent - and variable - Psilocybe mushroom. Chemical profiling, genetic analysis, and cultivation assist in demystifying these mushrooms. As clinical studies with psilocybin gain traction, understanding the diversity of psilocybin mushrooms will assure that psilocybin therapy does not become synonymous with psilocybin mushrooms.
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19
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Schäfer E, Seibold PS, Bartram S, Trottmann F, Haensch VG, Gressler M, Chadeayne AR, Hertweck C, O'Connor SE, Hoffmeister D. A "Magic Mushroom" Multi-Product Sesquiterpene Synthase. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300511. [PMID: 37614035 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Psilocybe "magic mushrooms" are chemically well understood for their psychotropic tryptamines. However, the diversity of their other specialized metabolites, in particular terpenoids, has largely remained an open question. Yet, knowledge on the natural product background is critical to understand if other compounds modulate the psychotropic pharmacological effects. CubA, the single clade II sesquiterpene synthase of P. cubensis, was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and characterized in vitro, complemented by in vivo product formation assays in Aspergillus niger as a heterologous host. Extensive GC-MS analyses proved a function as multi-product synthase and, depending on the reaction conditions, cubebol, β-copaene, δ-cadinene, and germacrene D were detected as the major products of CubA. In addition, mature P. cubensis carpophores were analysed chromatographically which led to the detection of β-copaene and δ-cadinene. Enzymes closely related to CubA are encoded in the genomes of various Psilocybe species. Therefore, our results provide insight into the metabolic capacity of the entire genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike Schäfer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Paula S Seibold
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Bartram
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department Natural Product Biosynthesis, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, 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
| | - Veit G Haensch
- Department Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Gressler
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Christian Hertweck
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Department Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department Natural Product Biosynthesis, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans Knöll Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Winzerlaer Str. 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Neugasse 23, 07743, Jena, Germany
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20
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Shi X, Zhao G, Li H, Zhao Z, Li W, Wu M, Du YL. Hydroxytryptophan biosynthesis by a family of heme-dependent enzymes in bacteria. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1415-1422. [PMID: 37653171 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01416-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxytryptophan serves as a chemical precursor to a variety of bioactive specialized metabolites, including the human neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. Although the human and animal routes to hydroxytryptophan have been known for decades, how bacteria catalyze tryptophan indole hydroxylation remains a mystery. Here we report a class of tryptophan hydroxylases that are involved in various bacterial metabolic pathways. These enzymes utilize a histidine-ligated heme cofactor and molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide to catalyze regioselective hydroxylation on the tryptophan indole moiety, which is mechanistically distinct from their animal counterparts from the nonheme iron enzyme family. Through genome mining, we also identify members that can hydroxylate the tryptophan indole ring at alternative positions. Our results not only reveal a conserved way to synthesize hydroxytryptophans in bacteria but also provide a valuable enzyme toolbox for biocatalysis. As proof of concept, we assemble a highly efficient pathway for melatonin in a bacterial host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjie Shi
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guiyun Zhao
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Hu Li
- Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijie Zhao
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miaolian Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Yi-Ling Du
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, China.
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21
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Chen X, Li J, Yu L, Maule F, Chang L, Gallant JA, Press DJ, Raithatha SA, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. A cane toad (Rhinella marina) N-methyltransferase converts primary indolethylamines to tertiary psychedelic amines. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105231. [PMID: 37690691 PMCID: PMC10570959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychedelic indolethylamines have emerged as potential medicines to treat several psychiatric pathologies. Natural sources of these compounds include 'magic mushrooms' (Psilocybe spp.), plants used to prepare ayahuasca, and toads. The skin and parotid glands of certain toads accumulate a variety of specialized metabolites including toxic guanidine alkaloids, lipophilic alkaloids, poisonous steroids, and hallucinogenic indolethylamines such as DMT, 5-methoxy-DMT, and bufotenin. The occurrence of psychedelics has contributed to the ceremonial use of toads, particularly among Mesoamerican peoples. Yet, the biosynthesis of psychedelic alkaloids has not been elucidated. Herein, we report a novel indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (RmNMT) from cane toad (Rhinella marina). The RmNMT sequence was used to identify a related NMT from the common toad, Bufo bufo. Close homologs from various frog species were inactive, suggesting a role for psychedelic indolethylamine biosynthesis in toads. Enzyme kinetic analyses and comparison with functionally similar enzymes showed that recombinant RmNMT was an effective catalyst and not product inhibited. The substrate promiscuity of RmNMT enabled the bioproduction of a variety of substituted indolethylamines at levels sufficient for purification, pharmacological screening, and metabolic stability assays. Since the therapeutic potential of psychedelics has been linked to activity at serotonergic receptors, we evaluated binding of derivatives at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors. Primary amines exhibited enhanced affinity at the 5-HT1A receptor compared with tertiary amines. With the exception of 6-substituted derivatives, N,N-dimethylation also protected against catabolism by liver microsomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Chen
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jing Li
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Francesca Maule
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Limei Chang
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - David J Press
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Jillian M Hagel
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Discovery Group, Enveric Biosciences Inc, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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22
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Kim K, Shahsavarani M, Garza-García JJO, Carlisle JE, Guo J, De Luca V, Qu Y. Biosynthesis of kratom opioids. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:757-769. [PMID: 37518950 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Mitragynine, an analgesic alkaloid from the plant Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), offers a safer alternative to clinical opioids such as morphine, owing to its more favorable side effect profile. Although kratom has been traditionally used for stimulation and pain management in Southeast Asia, the mitragynine biosynthesis pathway has remained elusive. We embarked on a search for mitragynine biosynthetic genes from the transcriptomes of kratom and other members of the Rubiaceae family. We studied their functions in vitro and in vivo. Our investigations led to the identification of several reductases and an enol methyltransferase that forms a new clade within the SABATH methyltransferase family. Furthermore, we discovered a methyltransferase from Hamelia patens (firebush), which catalyzes the final step. With the tryptamine 4-hydroxylase from the psychedelic mushroom Psilocybe cubensis, we accomplished the four-step biosynthesis for mitragynine and its stereoisomer, speciogynine in both yeast and Escherichia coli when supplied with tryptamine and secologanin. Although we have yet to pinpoint the authentic hydroxylase and methyltransferase in kratom, our discovery completes the mitragynine biosynthesis. Through these breakthroughs, we achieved the microbial biosynthesis of kratom opioids for the first time. The remarkable enzyme promiscuity suggests the possibility of generating derivatives and analogs of kratom opioids in heterologous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyunghee Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | | | | | - Jack Edward Carlisle
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Vincenzo De Luca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Yang Qu
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3, Canada
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23
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Rassbach J, Hilsberg N, Haensch VG, Dörner S, Gressler J, Sonnabend R, Semm C, Voigt K, Hertweck C, Gressler M. Non-canonical two-step biosynthesis of anti-oomycete indole alkaloids in Kickxellales. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2023; 10:19. [PMID: 37670394 PMCID: PMC10478498 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-023-00166-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungi are prolific producers of bioactive small molecules of pharmaceutical or agricultural interest. The secondary metabolism of higher fungi (Dikarya) has been well-investigated which led to > 39,000 described compounds. However, natural product researchers scarcely drew attention to early-diverging fungi (Mucoro- and Zoopagomycota) as they are considered to rarely produce secondary metabolites. Indeed, only 15 compounds have as yet been isolated from the entire phylum of the Zoopagomycota. RESULTS Here, we showcase eight species of the order Kickxellales (phylum Zoopagomycota) as potent producers of the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-derived compounds lindolins A and B. The compounds are produced both under laboratory conditions and in the natural soil habitat suggesting a specialized ecological function. Indeed, lindolin A is a selective agent against plant-pathogenic oomycetes such as Phytophthora sp. Lindolin biosynthesis was reconstituted in vitro and relies on the activity of two enzymes of dissimilar evolutionary origin: Whilst the IAA-CoA ligase LinA has evolved from fungal 4-coumaryl-CoA synthetases, the subsequently acting IAA-CoA:anthranilate N-indole-3-acetyltransferase LinB is a unique enzyme across all kingdoms of life. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report on bioactive secondary metabolites in the subphylum Kickxellomycotina and the first evidence for a non-clustered, two-step biosynthetic route of secondary metabolites in early-diverging fungi. Thus, the generally accepted "gene cluster hypothesis" for natural products needs to be reconsidered for early diverging fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Rassbach
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Nathalie Hilsberg
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Veit G Haensch
- Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dörner
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Julia Gressler
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Robin Sonnabend
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Caroline Semm
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection (JMRC), Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Voigt
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07743, Jena, Germany
- Jena Microbial Resource Collection (JMRC), Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute, Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 23, 07745, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Neugasse 25, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Gressler
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans-Knöll-Institute, Winzerlaer Strasse 2, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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24
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D'Ambrosio HK, Keeler AM, Derbyshire ER. Examination of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in Apicomplexa. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300263. [PMID: 37171468 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Natural product discovery has traditionally relied on the isolation of small molecules from producing species, but genome-sequencing technology and advances in molecular biology techniques have expanded efforts to a wider array of organisms. Protists represent an underexplored kingdom for specialized metabolite searches despite bioinformatic analysis that suggests they harbor distinct biologically active small molecules. Specifically, pathogenic apicomplexan parasites, responsible for billions of global infections, have been found to possess multiple biosynthetic gene clusters, which hints at their capacity to produce polyketide metabolites. Biochemical studies have revealed unique features of apicomplexan polyketide synthases, but to date, the identity and function of the polyketides synthesized by these megaenzymes remains unknown. Herein, we discuss the potential for specialized metabolite production in protists and the possible evolution of polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters in apicomplexan parasites. We then focus on a polyketide synthase from the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii to discuss the unique domain architecture and properties of these proteins when compared to previously characterized systems, and further speculate on the possible functions for polyketides in these pathogenic parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah K D'Ambrosio
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Aaron M Keeler
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, 124 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, 213 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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25
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Zhang AA, He QL, Zhao Q. Mining and Characterization of Indolethylamine N-Methyltransferases in Amphibian Toad Bufo gargarizans. Biochemistry 2023; 62:2371-2381. [PMID: 37490721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Strong, psychedelic indolethylamines (IAAs) are typically present in trace amounts in the majority of species, but they build up significantly in the skin of amphibian toads, especially N-methylated 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) analogues. However, there is no pertinent research on the investigation of indoleamine N-methyltransferase (INMT) in amphibians, nor is there any adequate information on the key amino acids that influence the activity of known INMTs from other species. Herein, we focused on Bufo toad INMT (BINMT) for the first time and preliminarily identified BINMT 1 from the transcriptomes of Bufo gargarizans active on tryptamine, 5-HT, and N-methyl-5-HT. We established the enzyme kinetic characteristics of BINMT 1 and identified the essential amino acids influencing its activity via molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequently, we carried out sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis on 43 homologous proteins found in the genome of B. gargarizans with BINMT 1 as the probe and selected seven of them for protein expression and activity assays. It was found that only three proteins possessing the highest similarity to BINMT 1 had INMT activity. Our research unveils the binding residues of BINMT for 5-HT analogues for the first time and initiates the study of INMTs in amphibian toads, serving as a tentative reference for further study of BINMT and providing insight into the comprehension of BINMT's catalytic mechanism and its role in the biosynthesis of 5-HT analogues in Bufo toads. It also contributes to the expansion of the INMT library to help explore and explain interspecies evolution in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- An-An Zhang
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qing-Li He
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qunfei Zhao
- The Research Center of Chiral Drugs, Innovation Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
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26
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Li XL, Sun Y, Yin Y, Zhan S, Wang C. A bacterial-like Pictet-Spenglerase drives the evolution of fungi to produce β-carboline glycosides together with separate genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2303327120. [PMID: 37467272 PMCID: PMC10372676 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2303327120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse β-carboline (βC) alkaloids are produced by microbes, plants, and animals with myriad bioactivities and drug potentials. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of βCs remains largely elusive, especially regarding the hydroxyl and glucosyl modifications of βCs. Here, we report the presence of the bacterial-like Pictet-Spenglerase gene Fcs1 in the entomopathogenic Beauveria fungi that can catalyze the biosynthesis of the βC skeleton. The overexpression of Fcs1 in Beauveria bassiana led to the identification of six βC methyl glycosides, termed bassicarbosides (BCSs) A-F. We verified that the cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes adjacent to Fcs1 cannot oxidize βCs. Alternatively, the separated CYP684B2 family gene Fcs2 was identified to catalyze βC hydroxylation together with its cofactor gene Fcs3. The functional homologue of Fcs2 is only present in the Fcs1-containing fungi and highly similar to the Fcs1-connected yet nonfunctional CYP. Both evolved quicker than those from fungi without Fcs1 homologues. Finally, the paired methyl/glucosyl transferase genes were verified to mediate the production of BCSs from hydroxy-βCs. All these functionally verified genes are located on different chromosomes of Beauveria, which is in contrast to the typical content-clustered feature of fungal biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). We also found that the production of BCSs selectively contributed to fungal infection of different insect species. Our findings shed light on the biosynthetic mechanism of βC glycosides, including the identification of a βC hydroxylase. The results of this study also propose an evolving process of fungal BGC formation following the horizontal transfer of a bacterial gene to fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Lin Li
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai200032, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Yanlei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai200032, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Ying Yin
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Shuai Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Chengshu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai200032, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
- School of Life Science and Technology,Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai201210, China
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27
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Friedberg LM, Sen AK, Nguyen Q, Tonucci GP, Hellwarth EB, Gibbons WJ, Jones JA. "In vivo biosynthesis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-MeO-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and bufotenine in E.coli". Metab Eng 2023; 78:61-71. [PMID: 37230161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (bufotenine) are psychedelic tryptamines found naturally in both plants and animals and have shown clinical potential to help treat mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Advances in both metabolic and genetic engineering make it possible to engineer microbes as cell factories to produce DMT and its aforementioned derivatives to meet demand for ongoing clinical study. Here, we present the development of a biosynthetic production pathway for DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and bufotenine in the model microbe Escherichia coli. Through the application of genetic optimization techniques and process optimization in benchtop fermenters, the in vivo production of DMT in E. coli was observed. DMT production with tryptophan supplementation reached maximum titers of 74.7 ± 10.5 mg/L under fed batch conditions in a 2-L bioreactor. Additionally, we show the first reported case of de novo production of DMT (from glucose) in E. coli at a maximum titer of 14.0 mg/L and report the first example of microbial 5-MeO-DMT and bufotenine production in vivo. This work provides a starting point for further genetic and fermentation optimization studies with the goal to increase methylated tryptamine production metrics to industrially competitive levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas M Friedberg
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - Abhishek K Sen
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - Quynh Nguyen
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - Gabriel P Tonucci
- Miami University, Department of Microbiology, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - Elle B Hellwarth
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - William J Gibbons
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
| | - J Andrew Jones
- Miami University, Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
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28
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Nagy L, Vonk P, Künzler M, Földi C, Virágh M, Ohm R, Hennicke F, Bálint B, Csernetics Á, Hegedüs B, Hou Z, Liu X, Nan S, Pareek M, Sahu N, Szathmári B, Varga T, Wu H, Yang X, Merényi Z. Lessons on fruiting body morphogenesis from genomes and transcriptomes of Agaricomycetes. Stud Mycol 2023; 104:1-85. [PMID: 37351542 PMCID: PMC10282164 DOI: 10.3114/sim.2022.104.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fruiting bodies (sporocarps, sporophores or basidiomata) of mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) are among the most complex structures produced by fungi. Unlike vegetative hyphae, fruiting bodies grow determinately and follow a genetically encoded developmental program that orchestrates their growth, tissue differentiation and sexual sporulation. In spite of more than a century of research, our understanding of the molecular details of fruiting body morphogenesis is still limited and a general synthesis on the genetics of this complex process is lacking. In this paper, we aim at a comprehensive identification of conserved genes related to fruiting body morphogenesis and distil novel functional hypotheses for functionally poorly characterised ones. As a result of this analysis, we report 921 conserved developmentally expressed gene families, only a few dozens of which have previously been reported to be involved in fruiting body development. Based on literature data, conserved expression patterns and functional annotations, we provide hypotheses on the potential role of these gene families in fruiting body development, yielding the most complete description of molecular processes in fruiting body morphogenesis to date. We discuss genes related to the initiation of fruiting, differentiation, growth, cell surface and cell wall, defence, transcriptional regulation as well as signal transduction. Based on these data we derive a general model of fruiting body development, which includes an early, proliferative phase that is mostly concerned with laying out the mushroom body plan (via cell division and differentiation), and a second phase of growth via cell expansion as well as meiotic events and sporulation. Altogether, our discussions cover 1 480 genes of Coprinopsis cinerea, and their orthologs in Agaricus bisporus, Cyclocybe aegerita, Armillaria ostoyae, Auriculariopsis ampla, Laccaria bicolor, Lentinula edodes, Lentinus tigrinus, Mycena kentingensis, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Schizophyllum commune, providing functional hypotheses for ~10 % of genes in the genomes of these species. Although experimental evidence for the role of these genes will need to be established in the future, our data provide a roadmap for guiding functional analyses of fruiting related genes in the Agaricomycetes. We anticipate that the gene compendium presented here, combined with developments in functional genomics approaches will contribute to uncovering the genetic bases of one of the most spectacular multicellular developmental processes in fungi. Citation: Nagy LG, Vonk PJ, Künzler M, Földi C, Virágh M, Ohm RA, Hennicke F, Bálint B, Csernetics Á, Hegedüs B, Hou Z, Liu XB, Nan S, M. Pareek M, Sahu N, Szathmári B, Varga T, Wu W, Yang X, Merényi Z (2023). Lessons on fruiting body morphogenesis from genomes and transcriptomes of Agaricomycetes. Studies in Mycology 104: 1-85. doi: 10.3114/sim.2022.104.01.
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Affiliation(s)
- L.G. Nagy
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - P.J. Vonk
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - M. Künzler
- Institute of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - C. Földi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - M. Virágh
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - R.A. Ohm
- Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - F. Hennicke
- Project Group Genetics and Genomics of Fungi, Chair Evolution of Plants and Fungi, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780, Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany;
| | - B. Bálint
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - Á. Csernetics
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - B. Hegedüs
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - Z. Hou
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - X.B. Liu
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - S. Nan
- Institute of Applied Mycology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei Province, PR China
| | - M. Pareek
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - N. Sahu
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - B. Szathmári
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - T. Varga
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - H. Wu
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
| | - X. Yang
- Institute of Applied Mycology, Huazhong Agricultural University, 430070 Hubei Province, PR China
| | - Z. Merényi
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Center, Szeged, 6726, Hungary;
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29
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Irvine W, Tyler M, Delgoda R. In silico characterization of the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway. Comput Biol Chem 2023; 104:107854. [PMID: 36990027 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Nearly all mushrooms of the Psilocybe genus contain the natural product psilocybin, which is a psychoactive alkaloid derived from l-tryptophan. Considering their use in ancient times, as well as their psychedelic properties, these mushrooms have re-emerged with psychotherapeutic potential for treating depression, which has triggered increased pharmaceutical interest. However, the psilocybin biosynthesis pathway was only recently defined and, as such, little exists in the way of structural data. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to structurally characterize this pathway by generating homology models for the four Psilocybe cubensis enzymes involved in psilocybin biosynthesis (PsiD, a decarboxylase; PsiH, a monooxygenase; PsiK, a phosphotransferase; PsiM, a methyltransferase). Following initial model generation and alignment with the identified structural templates, repeated refinement of the models was carried out using secondary structure prediction, geometry evaluation, energy minimization, and molecular dynamics simulations in water. The final models were then evaluated using molecular docking interactions with their substrates, i.e., psilocybin precursors (l-tryptophan, tryptamine, 4-hydroxytryptamine, and norbaeocystin/baeocystin), all of which generated feasible binding modes for the expected biotransformation. Further plausibility of the psilocybin → aeruginascin, 4-hydroxytryptamine → norpsilocin, and tryptamine → N,N-dimethyltryptamine conversions, all mediated by the generated model for PsiM, suggests valid routes of formation for these key secondary metabolites. The structural characterization of these enzymes and their binding modes which emerged from this study can lead to a better understanding of psilocybin synthesis, thereby paving the way for the development of novel substrates and selective inhibitors, as well as improved biotechnological manipulation and production of psilocybin in vitro.
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30
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Meyer M, Slot J. The evolution and ecology of psilocybin in nature. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 167:103812. [PMID: 37210028 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Fungi produce diverse metabolites that can have antimicrobial, antifungal, antifeedant, or psychoactive properties. Among these metabolites are the tryptamine-derived compounds psilocybin, its precursors, and natural derivatives (collectively referred to as psiloids), which have played significant roles in human society and culture. The high allocation of nitrogen to psiloids in mushrooms, along with evidence of convergent evolution and horizontal transfer of psilocybin genes, suggest they provide a selective benefit to some fungi. However, no precise ecological roles of psilocybin have been experimentally determined. The structural and functional similarities of psiloids to serotonin, an essential neurotransmitter in animals, suggest that they may enhance the fitness of fungi through interference with serotonergic processes. However, other ecological mechanisms of psiloids have been proposed. Here, we review the literature pertinent to psilocybin ecology and propose potential adaptive advantages psiloids may confer to fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Meyer
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Environmental Science Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Jason Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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31
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Kelly JR, Clarke G, Harkin A, Corr SC, Galvin S, Pradeep V, Cryan JF, O'Keane V, Dinan TG. Seeking the Psilocybiome: Psychedelics meet the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100349. [PMID: 36605409 PMCID: PMC9791138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Moving towards a systems psychiatry paradigm embraces the inherent complex interactions across all levels from micro to macro and necessitates an integrated approach to treatment. Cortical 5-HT2A receptors are key primary targets for the effects of serotonergic psychedelics. However, the therapeutic mechanisms underlying psychedelic therapy are complex and traverse molecular, cellular, and network levels, under the influence of biofeedback signals from the periphery and the environment. At the interface between the individual and the environment, the gut microbiome, via the gut-brain axis, plays an important role in the unconscious parallel processing systems regulating host neurophysiology. While psychedelic and microbial signalling systems operate over different timescales, the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, as a convergence hub between multiple biofeedback systems may play a role in the preparatory phase, the acute administration phase, and the integration phase of psychedelic therapy. In keeping with an interconnected systems-based approach, this review will discuss the gut microbiome and mycobiome and pathways of the MGB axis, and then explore the potential interaction between psychedelic therapy and the MGB axis and how this might influence mechanism of action and treatment response. Finally, we will discuss the possible implications for a precision medicine-based psychedelic therapy paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R. Kelly
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Sinead C. Corr
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephen Galvin
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vishnu Pradeep
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John F. Cryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Veronica O'Keane
- Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Ireland
| | - Timothy G. Dinan
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Science, University College Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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32
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Jones JA, Spigarelli MG. Harnessing synthetic biology to develop novel psychedelic therapies. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:586-587. [PMID: 36567184 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J Andrew Jones
- PsyBio Therapeutics, Sunrise, FL 33351, USA; Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
| | - Michael G Spigarelli
- PsyBio Therapeutics, Sunrise, FL 33351, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
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33
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Schotte C, Jiang Y, Grzech D, Dang TTT, Laforest LC, León F, Mottinelli M, Nadakuduti SS, McCurdy CR, O’Connor SE. Directed Biosynthesis of Mitragynine Stereoisomers. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:4957-4963. [PMID: 36883326 PMCID: PMC9999412 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Mitragyna speciosa ("kratom") is used as a natural remedy for pain and management of opioid dependence. The pharmacological properties of kratom have been linked to a complex mixture of monoterpene indole alkaloids, most notably mitragynine. Here, we report the central biosynthetic steps responsible for the scaffold formation of mitragynine and related corynanthe-type alkaloids. We illuminate the mechanistic basis by which the key stereogenic center of this scaffold is formed. These discoveries were leveraged for the enzymatic production of mitragynine, the C-20 epimer speciogynine, and fluorinated analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Schotte
- Department
of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Yindi Jiang
- Department
of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Dagny Grzech
- Department
of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Thu-Thuy T. Dang
- Department
of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Larissa C. Laforest
- Plant
Molecular and Cell Biology Program, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32606, United States
| | - Francisco León
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Marco Mottinelli
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Satya Swathi Nadakuduti
- Plant
Molecular and Cell Biology Program, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32606, United States
- Department
of Environmental Horticulture, University
of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32606, United
States
| | - Christopher R. McCurdy
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, United States
| | - Sarah E. O’Connor
- Department
of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck
Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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McTaggart AR, James TY, Slot JC, Barlow C, Fechner N, Shuey LS, Drenth A. Genome sequencing progenies of magic mushrooms (Psilocybe subaeruginosa) identifies tetrapolar mating and gene duplications in the psilocybin pathway. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 165:103769. [PMID: 36587787 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2022.103769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of breeding systems and genetic diversity is critical to select and combine desired traits that advance new cultivars in agriculture and horticulture. Mushrooms that produce psilocybin, magic mushrooms, may potentially be used in therapeutic and wellness industries, and stand to benefit from genetic improvement. We studied haploid siblings of Psilocybe subaeruginosa to resolve the genetics behind mating compatibility and advance knowledge of breeding. Our results show that mating in P. subaeruginosa is tetrapolar, with compatibility controlled at a homeodomain locus with one copy each of HD1 and HD2, and a pheromone/receptor locus with four homologs of the receptor gene STE3. An additional two pheromone/receptor loci homologous to STE3 do not appear to regulate mating compatibility. Alleles in the psilocybin gene cluster did not vary among the five siblings and were likely homozygous in the parent. Psilocybe subaeruginosa and its relatives have three copies of PsiH genes but their impact on production of psilocybin and its analogues is unknown. Genetic improvement in Psilocybe will require access to genetic diversity from the centre of origin of different species, identification of genes behind traits, and strategies to avoid inbreeding depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair R McTaggart
- Centre for Horticultural Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Timothy Y James
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jason C Slot
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Caine Barlow
- Entheogenesis Australis, PO Box 2046, Belgrave, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nigel Fechner
- Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Science, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Toowong, Queensland, Australia
| | - Louise S Shuey
- Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - André Drenth
- Centre for Horticultural Science, Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
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Wang R, Piggott AM, Chooi YH, Li H. Discovery, bioactivity and biosynthesis of fungal piperazines. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:387-411. [PMID: 36374102 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00070a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to the end of July, 2022Fungi are prolific producers of piperazine alkaloids, which have been shown to exhibit an array of remarkable biological activities. Since the first fungal piperazine, herquline A, was reported from Penicillium herquei Fg-372 in 1979, a plethora of structurally diverse piperazines have been isolated and characterised from various fungal strains. Significant advancements have been made in recent years towards unravelling the biosynthesis of fungal piperazines and numerous synthetic routes have been proposed. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge of the discovery, classification, bioactivity and biosynthesis of piperazine alkaloids reported from fungi, and discusses the perspectives for exploring the structural diversity of fungal piperazines via genome mining of the untapped piperazine biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Andrew M Piggott
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Yit-Heng Chooi
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Hang Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, People's Republic of China.
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36
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Serreau R, Amirouche A, Benyamina A, Berteina-Raboin S. A Review of Synthetic Access to Therapeutic Compounds Extracted from Psilocybe. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:ph16010040. [PMID: 36678537 PMCID: PMC9867295 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychedelics are used for various pathologies of the central nervous system and are currently the subject of much research, some of which relates to the compounds contained in various Psilocybe-type hallucinogenic mushrooms. It is difficult, however, to obtain and purify sufficient quantities of these compounds from fungi to carry out biological studies, hence the need to develop simple and efficient synthetic routes. We review here the various syntheses used to obtain these molecules, focusing first on the classic historical syntheses, then the use of more recent metallo-catalyzed couplings and finally the known biocatalytic methods for obtaining these molecules. Other access routes are certainly possible and should be the subject of future research given the therapeutic interest of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Serreau
- Unité de Recherche PSYCOMADD, APHP Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, 12 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94804 Villejuif, France
- Addictologie EPSM Georges DAUMEZON, GHT Loiret, 1 Route de Chanteau, 45400 Fleury les Aubrais, France
| | - Ammar Amirouche
- Unité de Recherche PSYCOMADD-Psychiatrie Comorbidités Addictions, APHP Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, 12 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94804 Villejuif, France
| | - Amine Benyamina
- Unité de Recherche PSYCOMADD-Psychiatrie Comorbidités Addictions, APHP Université Paris Saclay, Hôpital Paul-Brousse, 12 Avenue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 94804 Villejuif, France
| | - Sabine Berteina-Raboin
- Institut de Chimie Organique et Analytique (ICOA), Université d’Orléans, UMR-CNRS 7311, BP 6759, Rue de Chartres, CEDEX 2, 45067 Orléans, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-238-494-856
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37
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DNA Authentication and Chemical Analysis of Psilocybe Mushrooms Reveal Widespread Misdeterminations in Fungaria and Inconsistencies in Metabolites. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0149822. [PMID: 36445079 PMCID: PMC9764976 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01498-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The mushroom genus Psilocybe is best known as the core group of psychoactive mushrooms, yet basic information on their diversity, taxonomy, chemistry, and general biology is still largely lacking. In this study, we reexamined 94 Psilocybe fungarium specimens, representing 18 species, by DNA barcoding, evaluated the stability of psilocybin, psilocin, and their related tryptamine alkaloids in 25 specimens across the most commonly vouchered species (Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe cyanescens, and Psilocybe semilanceata), and explored the metabolome of cultivated P. cubensis. Our data show that, apart from a few well-known species, the taxonomic accuracy of specimen determinations is largely unreliable, even at the genus level. A substantial quantity of poor-quality and mislabeled sequence data in public repositories, as well as a paucity of sequences derived from types, further exacerbates the problem. Our data also support taxon- and time-dependent decay of psilocybin and psilocin, with some specimens having no detectable quantities of them. We also show that the P. cubensis metabolome possibly contains thousands of uncharacterized compounds, at least some of which may be bioactive. Taken together, our study undermines commonly held assumptions about the accuracy of names and presence of controlled substances in fungarium specimens identified as Psilocybe spp. and reveals that our understanding of the chemical diversity of these mushrooms is largely incomplete. These results have broader implications for regulatory policies pertaining to the storage and sharing of fungarium specimens as well as the use of psychoactive mushrooms for recreation and therapy. IMPORTANCE The therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," is revolutionizing mental health care for a number of conditions, including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and end-of-life care. This has spotlighted the current state of knowledge of psilocybin, including the organisms that endogenously produce it. However, because of international regulation of psilocybin as a controlled substance (often included on the same list as cocaine and heroin), basic research has lagged far behind. Our study highlights how the poor state of knowledge of even the most fundamental scientific information can impact the use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms for recreational or therapeutic applications and undermines critical assumptions that underpin their regulation by legal authorities. Our study shows that currently available chemical studies are mainly inaccurate, irreproducible, and inconsistent, that there exists a high rate of misidentification in museum collections and public databases rendering even names unreliable, and that the concentration of psilocybin and its tryptamine derivatives in three of the most commonly collected Psilocybe species (P. cubensis, P. cyanescens, and P. semilanceata) is highly variable and unstable in museum specimens spanning multiple decades, and our study generates the first-ever insight into the highly complex and largely uncharacterized metabolomic profile for the most commonly cultivated magic mushroom, P. cubensis.
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38
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Schäfer T, Kramer K, Werten S, Rupp B, Hoffmeister D. Characterization of the Gateway Decarboxylase for Psilocybin Biosynthesis. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200551. [PMID: 36327140 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The l-tryptophan decarboxylase PsiD catalyzes the initial step of the metabolic cascade to psilocybin, the major indoleethylamine natural product of the "magic" mushrooms and a candidate drug against major depressive disorder. Unlike numerous pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent decarboxylases for natural product biosyntheses, PsiD is PLP-independent and resembles type II phosphatidylserine decarboxylases. Here, we report on the in vitro biochemical characterization of Psilocybe cubensis PsiD along with in silico modeling of the PsiD structure. A non-canonical serine protease triad for autocatalytic cleavage of the pro-protein was predicted and experimentally verified by site-directed mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schäfer
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Kristina Kramer
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastiaan Werten
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bernhard Rupp
- Institute of Genetic Epidemiology, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.,k.-k. Hofkristallamt, 991 Audrey Place, Vista, CA, 92084, USA
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
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39
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Strauss D, Ghosh S, Murray Z, Gryzenhout M. Psilocybin containing mushrooms: a rapidly developing biotechnology industry in the psychiatry, biomedical and nutraceutical fields. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:339. [PMID: 36340802 PMCID: PMC9633885 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03355-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans have collected and used hallucinogenic mushrooms for ethnic medicinal, recreational, and religious purposes since before recorded history. Currently, the use of these mushrooms is illegal in most countries, but where their use is legal they are applied as self medication. Psilocybin and psilocin, two psychoactive alkaloids, are naturally synthesized by hallucinogenic mushrooms. The chemical structure of these compounds are similar to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Activation of this system by psilocybin and psilocin may produce temporary changes in the brain that induce hallucinations and feelings of euphoria. Adjustment of the serotonin system in this way can moderate symptoms of related mental disorders. This review summarizes relevant and current information regarding the discovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms and their contained psychoactive compounds, the events that lead to their criminalization and decriminilization, and the state of knowledge of psilocybin, psilocin, and derivatives. Last, research on the psychoactive properties of these mushrooms is placed in perspective to possible applications for human dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Strauss
- Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301 South Africa
| | - Soumya Ghosh
- Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301 South Africa
| | - Zurika Murray
- Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301 South Africa
| | - Marieka Gryzenhout
- Department of Genetics, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301 South Africa
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40
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Gotvaldová K, Borovička J, Hájková K, Cihlářová P, Rockefeller A, Kuchař M. Extensive Collection of Psychotropic Mushrooms with Determination of Their Tryptamine Alkaloids. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214068. [PMID: 36430546 PMCID: PMC9693126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since not only psilocybin (PSB) but also PSB-containing mushrooms are used for psychedelic therapy and microdosing, it is necessary to know their concentration variability in wild-grown mushrooms. This article aimed to determine the PSB, psilocin (PS), baeocystin (BA), norbaeocystin (NB), and aeruginascin (AE) concentrations in a large sample set of mushrooms belonging to genera previously reported to contain psychotropic tryptamines. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was used to quantify tryptamine alkaloids in the mushroom samples. Most mushroom collections were documented by fungarium specimens and/or ITS rDNA/LSU/EF1-α sequencing. Concentrations of five tryptamine alkaloids were determined in a large sample set of 226 fruiting bodies of 82 individual collections from seven mushroom genera. For many mushroom species, concentrations of BA, NB, and AE are reported for the first time. The highest PSB/PS concentrations were found in Psilocybe species, but no tryptamines were detected in the P. fuscofulva and P. fimetaria collections. The tryptamine concentrations in mushrooms are extremely variable, representing a problem for mushroom consumers due to the apparent risk of overdose. The varied cocktail of tryptamines in wild mushrooms could influence the medicinal effect compared to therapy with chemically pure PSB, posing a serious problem for data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Gotvaldová
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Praha 6—Dejvice, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Borovička
- Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Hlavní 130, 250 68 Husinec-Řež, Czech Republic
- Institute of Geology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojová 269, 165 00 Praha 6, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Hájková
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Praha 6—Dejvice, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Cihlářová
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Praha 6—Dejvice, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | | | - Martin Kuchař
- Forensic Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances, Department of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Praha 6—Dejvice, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
- Psychedelic Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-220444431
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41
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Glatfelter GC, Pottie E, Partilla JS, Sherwood AM, Kaylo K, Pham DNK, Naeem M, Sammeta VR, DeBoer S, Golen JA, Hulley EB, Stove CP, Chadeayne AR, Manke DR, Baumann MH. Structure-Activity Relationships for Psilocybin, Baeocystin, Aeruginascin, and Related Analogues to Produce Pharmacological Effects in Mice. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:1181-1196. [PMID: 36407948 PMCID: PMC9667540 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.2c00177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
4-Phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocybin) is a naturally occurring tertiary amine found in many mushroom species. Psilocybin is a prodrug for 4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilocin), which induces psychedelic effects via agonist activity at the serotonin (5-HT) 2A receptor (5-HT2A). Several other 4-position ring-substituted tryptamines are present in psilocybin-containing mushrooms, including the secondary amine 4-phosphoryloxy-N-methyltryptamine (baeocystin) and the quaternary ammonium 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N,N-trimethyltryptamine (aeruginascin), but these compounds are not well studied. Here, we investigated the structure-activity relationships for psilocybin, baeocystin, and aeruginascin, as compared to their 4-acetoxy and 4-hydroxy analogues, using in vitro and in vivo methods. Broad receptor screening using radioligand binding assays in transfected cells revealed that secondary and tertiary tryptamines with either 4-acetoxy or 4-hydroxy substitutions display nanomolar affinity for most human 5-HT receptor subtypes tested, including the 5-HT2A and the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1A). The same compounds displayed affinity for 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A in mouse brain tissue in vitro and exhibited agonist efficacy in assays examining 5-HT2A-mediated calcium mobilization and β-arrestin 2 recruitment. In mouse experiments, only the tertiary amines psilocin, psilocybin, and 4-acetoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (psilacetin) induced head twitch responses (ED50 0.11-0.29 mg/kg) indicative of psychedelic-like activity. Head twitches were blocked by 5-HT2A antagonist pretreatment, supporting 5-HT2A involvement. Both secondary and tertiary amines decreased body temperature and locomotor activity at higher doses, the effects of which were blocked by 5-HT1A antagonist pretreatment. Across all assays, the pharmacological effects of 4-acetoxy and 4-hydroxy compounds were similar, and these compounds were more potent than their 4-phosphoryloxy counterparts. Importantly, psilacetin appears to be a prodrug for psilocin that displays substantial serotonin receptor activities of its own.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant C. Glatfelter
- Designer
Drug Research Unit, National Institute on
Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | - Eline Pottie
- Laboratory
of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ottergemsesteenweg
460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - John S. Partilla
- Designer
Drug Research Unit, National Institute on
Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
| | | | - Kristi Kaylo
- Usona
Institute, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Duyen N. K. Pham
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | - Marilyn Naeem
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | - Vamshikrishna Reddy Sammeta
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | - Stacie DeBoer
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States
| | - James A. Golen
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | - Elliott B. Hulley
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071, United States
| | - Christophe P. Stove
- Laboratory
of Toxicology, Department of Bioanalysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Ghent University, Campus Heymans, Ottergemsesteenweg
460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - David R. Manke
- Department
of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University
of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States
| | - Michael H. Baumann
- Designer
Drug Research Unit, National Institute on
Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
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Zhang T, Cai G, Rong X, Wang Y, Gong K, Liu W, Wang L, Pang X, Yu L. A Combination of Genome Mining with an OSMAC Approach Facilitates the Discovery of and Contributions to the Biosynthesis of Melleolides from the Basidiomycete Armillaria tabescens. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:12430-12441. [PMID: 36134616 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c04079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Genome mining revealed that the genomes of basidiomycetes may include a considerable number of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), yet numerous clusters remain unidentified. Herein, we report a combination of genome mining with an OSMAC (one strain, many compounds) approach to characterize the spectrum of melleolides produced by Armillaria tabescens CPCC 401429. Using F1 fermentation medium, the metabolic pathway of the gene cluster mel was successfully upregulated. From the extracts of the wild-type strain, two new melleolides (1 and 2), along with five new orsellinic acid-derived lactams (10-14), were isolated, and their structures were elucidated by LC-HR-ESIMS/MS and 2D-NMR. Several melleolides exhibited moderate anti-carcinoma (A549, NCI-H520, and H1299) effects with IC50 values of 4.0-48.8 μM. RNA-sequencing based transcriptomic profiling broadened our knowledge of the genetic background, regulation, and mechanisms of melleolide biosynthesis. These results may promote downstream metabolic engineering studies of melleolides. Our study demonstrates the approach is effective for discovering new secondary metabolites from Armillaria sp. and will facilitate the mining of the unexploited biosynthetic potential in other basidiomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Guowei Cai
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 256603, China
| | - Xiaoting Rong
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
- College of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212003, China
| | - Yuquan Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - KaiKai Gong
- Medical Research Center, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong 256603, China
| | - Wancang Liu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xu Pang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Liyan Yu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
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43
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Qiao C, Chen F, Liu Z, Huang T, Li W, Zhang G, Luo Y. Functional characterization of a catalytically promiscuous tryptophan decarboxylase from camptothecin-producing Camptotheca acuminata. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:987348. [PMID: 36061783 PMCID: PMC9433702 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.987348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tryptophan decarboxylases (TDCs) are a group of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes involved in the enzymatic conversion of tryptophan into tryptamine, a critical biogenic amine. We herein mined and cloned a TDC-encoding gene, CaTDC3, from camptothecin-producing plant Camptotheca acuminata. The intact CaTDC3 was heterologously overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant CaTDC3 was purified to homogeneity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data analyses of the CaTDC3-catalyzed reaction mixture confirmed the catalytically decarboxylative activity of CaTDC3. CaTDC3 shows strict stereoselectivity for L-tryptophan. Homology modeling and molecular docking implied CaTDC3's recognition of L-tryptophan derivatives and analogs. Substrate scope investigations revealed that the appropriate substituent groups on the indole ring, i.e., hydroxylated and halogenated L-tryptophans, could be recognized by CaTDC3 and the decarboxylation reactions generated the corresponding tryptamines. The Cβ -methyl-L-tryptophans were decarboxylated by CaTDC3 efficiently. 1-Thio-L-tryptophan, the NH group of the indole ring replaced by an S atom, could be decarboxylated by CaTDC3. CaTDC3 catalyzed the decarboxylation of 7-aza-L-tryptophan, an N displacement of the C on the aromatic ring, to afford 7-aza-tryptamine. L-Kynurenine, an L-tryptophan degradation product, could be decarboxylated by CaTDC3. The present works uncover a catalytically promiscuous TDC and the TDC is a versatile decarboxylase in synthetic biology for specialized pharmaceutically important substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Qiao
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhan Liu
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianfang Huang
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Yinggang Luo
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
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44
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Yao S, Wei C, Lin H, Zhang P, Liu Y, Deng Y, Huang Q, Xie B. Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Regulate Psilocybin Biosynthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis Mushroom via Amino Acid Metabolism Pathways. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:870. [PMID: 36012858 PMCID: PMC9410116 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As a potential medicine for the treatment of depression, psilocybin has gradually attracted attention. To elucidate the molecular mechanism regulating psilocybin synthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis, ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to detect the changes in psilocybin content after S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (SAH) treatment and the changes of psilocybin content in different parts (stipe and pileus), and RNA-Seq was used to explore the mechanism of psilocybin content changes. In this study, the psilocybin content in G. dilepis mycelia treated with SAH was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the content of psilocybin in the stipe was significantly higher than that in the pileus. Transcriptome analysis revealed that differential expression genes (DEGs) were associated with cysteine and methionine metabolism. In particular, the transcription levels of genes encoding Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH) in different treatments and different parts were positively correlated with psilocybin content. In addition, we found that the exogenous addition of CTH activity inhibitor (DL-propargylglycine, PAG) could reduce the content of psilocybin and L-serine, and the content of psilocybin and L-serine returned to normal levels after L-cysteine supplementation, suggesting that psilocybin synthesis may be positively correlated with L-cysteine or CTH, and L-cysteine regulates the synthesis of psilocybin by affecting L-serine and 4-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. In conclusion, this study revealed a new molecular mechanism that affects psilocybin biosynthesis, which can provide a theoretical basis for improving psilocybin synthesis and the possibility for the development of biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Yao
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Chuanzheng Wei
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yuanyuan Liu
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Youjin Deng
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Qianhui Huang
- College of Life Science, Ningde Normal University, Ningde 352100, China
| | - Baogui Xie
- Mycological Research Center, College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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45
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Dörner S, Rogge K, Fricke J, Schäfer T, Wurlitzer JM, Gressler M, Pham DNK, Manke DR, Chadeayne AR, Hoffmeister D. Genetic Survey of Psilocybe Natural Products. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200249. [PMID: 35583969 PMCID: PMC9400892 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Dörner
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Kai Rogge
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Janis Fricke
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Tim Schäfer
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Jacob M. Wurlitzer
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Markus Gressler
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
| | - Duyen N. K. Pham
- Department of Chemistry & BiochemistryUniversity of Massachusetts285 Old Westport RoadDartmouthMA02747USA
| | - David R. Manke
- Department of Chemistry & BiochemistryUniversity of Massachusetts285 Old Westport RoadDartmouthMA02747USA
| | | | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Department Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Knöll-InstituteFriedrich-Schiller-UniversitätBeutenbergstrasse 11a07745JenaGermany
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46
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He MQ, Wang MQ, Chen ZH, Deng WQ, Li TH, Vizzini A, Jeewon R, Hyde KD, Zhao RL. Potential benefits and harms: a review of poisonous mushrooms in the world. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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47
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Chen BS, Zhang D, de Souza FZR, Liu L. Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Marine-Derived Alkaloids via Enzymatic Reactions. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20060368. [PMID: 35736171 PMCID: PMC9229328 DOI: 10.3390/md20060368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alkaloids are a large and structurally diverse group of marine-derived natural products. Most marine-derived alkaloids are biologically active and show promising applications in modern (agro)chemical, pharmaceutical, and fine chemical industries. Different approaches have been established to access these marine-derived alkaloids. Among these employed methods, biotechnological approaches, namely, (chemo)enzymatic synthesis, have significant potential for playing a central role in alkaloid production on an industrial scale. In this review, we discuss research progress on marine-derived alkaloid synthesis via enzymatic reactions and note the advantages and disadvantages of their applications for industrial production, as well as green chemistry for marine natural product research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-Shuang Chen
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; (B.-S.C.); (D.Z.); (L.L.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Di Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; (B.-S.C.); (D.Z.); (L.L.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
| | - Fayene Zeferino Ribeiro de Souza
- Centro Universitário Planalto do Distrito Federal, Universidade Virtual do Estado de São Paulo (UNIPLAN), Campus Bauru 17014-350, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-014-32452580
| | - Lan Liu
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China; (B.-S.C.); (D.Z.); (L.L.)
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519082, China
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48
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Huang Y, Valiante V. Chemical Diversity and Biosynthesis of Drimane-Type Sesquiterpenes in the Fungal Kingdom. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200173. [PMID: 35574818 PMCID: PMC9546479 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Drimane-type sesquiterpenes are a class of compounds produced by a wide range of organisms, initially isolated and characterized in plants. Meanwhile, in the past 20-30 years, a large number of novel structures from many divergent fungi have been elucidated. Recently, the biosynthesis of drimane-type sesquiter-penes and their esters has been explained in two filamentous fungi, namely Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus calidoustus, disclosing the basic biosynthetic principles needed to identify similar pathways in the fungal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Huang
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection BiologyHans Knöll Institute: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut, Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, GERMANY
| | - Vito Valiante
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut, Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 23, 07745, Jena, GERMANY
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49
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Lenz C, Dörner S, Trottmann F, Hertweck C, Sherwood A, Hoffmeister D. Assessment of Bioactivity-Modulating Pseudo-Ring Formation in Psilocin and Related Tryptamines. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200183. [PMID: 35483009 PMCID: PMC9401598 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Psilocybin (1) is the major alkaloid found in psychedelic mushrooms and acts as a prodrug to psilocin (2, 4‐hydroxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine), a potent psychedelic that exerts remarkable alteration of human consciousness. In contrast, the positional isomer bufotenin (7, 5‐hydroxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine) differs significantly in its reported pharmacology. A series of experiments was designed to explore chemical differences between 2 and 7 and specifically to test the hypothesis that the C‐4 hydroxy group of 2 significantly influences the observed physical and chemical properties through pseudo‐ring formation via an intramolecular hydrogen bond (IMHB). NMR spectroscopy, accompanied by quantum chemical calculations, was employed to compare hydrogen bond behavior in 4‐ and 5‐hydroxylated tryptamines. The results provide evidence for a pseudo‐ring in 2 and that sidechain/hydroxyl interactions in 4‐hydroxytryptamines influence their oxidation kinetics. We conclude that the propensity to form IMHBs leads to a higher number of uncharged species that easily cross the blood‐brain barrier, compared to 7 and other 5‐hydroxytryptamines, which cannot form IMHBs. Our work helps understand a fundamental aspect of the pharmacology of 2 and should support efforts to introduce it (via the prodrug 1) as an urgently needed therapeutic against major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudius Lenz
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, GERMANY
| | - Sebastian Dörner
- Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena: Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat Jena, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, 07745, Jena, GERMANY
| | - Felix Trottmann
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut, Biomolecular Chemistry, 07745, Jena, GERMANY
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knöll-Institut: Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut, Biomolecular Chemistry, GERMANY
| | - Alexander Sherwood
- Usona Institute, Chemistry, 2800 Woods Hollow Road, 53711, Madison, UNITED STATES
| | - Dirk Hoffmeister
- Leibniz-Institut fur Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie eV Hans-Knoll-Institut, Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the Hans-Kn�ll-Institute, Beutenbergstrasse 11a, 07745, Jena, GERMANY
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50
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Della-Felice F, de Andrade Bartolomeu A, Pilli RA. The phosphate ester group in secondary metabolites. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1066-1107. [PMID: 35420073 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00078k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 to mid-2021The phosphate ester is a versatile, widespread functional group involved in a plethora of biological activities. Its presence in secondary metabolites, however, is relatively rare compared to other functionalities and thus is part of a rather unexplored chemical space. Herein, the chemistry of secondary metabolites containing the phosphate ester group is discussed. The text emphasizes their structural diversity, biological and pharmacological profiles, and synthetic approaches employed in the phosphorylation step during total synthesis campaigns, covering the literature from 2000 to mid-2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Della-Felice
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Av. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
| | | | - Ronaldo Aloise Pilli
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), P.O. Box 6154, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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