Cystathionine Gamma-Lyase Regulate Psilocybin Biosynthesis in Gymnopilus dilepis Mushroom via Amino Acid Metabolism Pathways
Journal of Fungi August 18, 2022 Sen Yao, Chuanzheng Wei, Hui Lin et al. 6 citations
Psilocybin content in the fungus Gymnopilus dilepis is regulated by cysteine and methionine metabolism. Treating mycelia with S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine significantly reduced psilocybin levels, while the stipe contained more psilocybin than the pileus. Transcriptome analysis linked differential gene expression to cysteine and methionine pathways, with Cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH) transcription positively correlating with psilocybin content. Adding a CTH inhibitor lowered psilocybin and L-serine; supplementing L-cysteine restored both, suggesting L-cysteine or CTH positively regulates psilocybin synthesis via L-serine and 4-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. This reveals a new molecular mechanism for psilocybin biosynthesis.