Ibotenic acid biosynthesis in the fly agaric is initiated by glutamate hydroxylation
Sebastian Obermaier, Michael Müller
bioRxiv Preprint Server November 18, 2019 preprint DOI: 10.1101/846857 via bioRxiv
Summary
The study identifies and produces a glutamate hydroxylase from the fly agaric mushroom, Amanita muscaria, supporting a long-standing hypothesis that ibotenic acid biosynthesis begins with 3-hydroxyglutamate. The gene associated with this enzyme is surrounded by six others linked to ibotenic acid production, offering new insights into its biosynthetic pathway.
Study at a glance
| Population | Amanita muscaria mushroom |
|---|---|
| Key finding | A glutamate hydroxylase linked to ibotenic acid production has been identified and produced. |
Abstract
The fly agaric, Amanita muscaria, is widely known for its content of the psychoactive metabolites ibotenic acid and muscimol. 50 years ago, their biosynthesis was hypothesized to start with 3-hydroxyglutamate. Here, we build on this hypothesis by the identification and recombinant production of a glutamate hydroxylase from A. muscaria. The corresponding gene is surrounded by six other genes, which we link to ibotenic acid production using recent genetic data. Our data provide new insights into a decades-old question concerning a centuries-old drug.