Ergot Alkaloids and their Hallucinogenic Potential in Morning Glories

Summary

Ergot alkaloids found in certain Central American plants, such as Turbina corymbosa and Ipomoea violacea, are produced by a newly identified genus of fungi called Periglandula. These fungi colonize the plants and are associated with glandular structures on their leaves. The alkaloids are not retained in the fungi but are transferred to the host plants, indicating a mutual benefit. The evolutionary structure of the alkaloid biosynthetic gene cluster in this symbiosis appears to be conserved.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Naturally occurring and semisynthetic ergot alkaloids play a role in health care or as recreational drugs in Western and indigenous Mexican societies. Evidence is summarized that ergot alkaloids present in Central American Convolvulaceae like Turbina corymbosa, Ipomoea violacea, and Ipomoea asarifolia are colonized by different species of a newly described clavicipitaceous fungal genus named Periglandula. The fungi are associated with peltate glandular trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface of its host plants. The Periglandula fungi are not yet culturable in vitro but were demonstrated to have the capacity to synthesize ergot alkaloids. The alkaloids do not remain in the fungal mycelium but are translocated via the glandular trichomes into their plant host. Both fungi and host benefit from a symbiotic lifestyle. In evolutionary terms the alkaloid biosynthetic gene cluster in the Periglandula/Ipomoea symbiosis is likely to have a conserved (basic) structure while biosynthetic ergot gene clusters within the genera Claviceps and Epichloe were under ecological selection for alkaloid diversification.

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