Specific and Multi‐Product Clade I and Clade IV Sesquiterpene Synthases Contribute to the Psilocybe cubensis Volatilome
ChemBioChem April 1, 2026 Sebastian Schober, Lisa Dorfmann, Karl Walther et al.
Psilocybe cubensis magic mushrooms produce not only the psychedelic psilocybin but also a range of sesquiterpenes, natural products that can modulate biological receptors. Five sesquiterpene synthases were characterized: CubF makes α-muurolol, CubG1 and CubG2 produce mainly epi-isozizaene and β-duprezianene, CubH yields dauca-4(11),8-diene, and CubI forms β-barbatene. Gas chromatography revealed that vegetative mycelium and fruiting bodies have different sesquiterpene profiles, with sterpurene prominent in mycelium and dauca-4(11),8-diene in fruiting bodies. This knowledge may help separate the pharmacological effects of whole magic mushrooms from those of pure psilocybin.