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J Andrew Jones

4 papers in the library · 47 citations · publishing 2023-2026

Papers

“Biosynthesis of psilocybin and its nonnatural derivatives by a promiscuous psilocybin synthesis pathway in Escherichia coli”

Biotechnology and Bioengineering June 20, 2023 Jessica E Flower, William J Gibbons, Alexandra M Adams et al. 26 citations

Bacterial production of psilocybin and 13 related compounds was achieved by adding the enzyme PsiH to the existing biosynthesis pathway. Testing 49 different indole derivatives revealed that the pathway enzymes accept many substrates, enabling the creation of a library of new drug candidates for mental health treatment.

DOI: 10.1002/bit.28480 Psilocybin Co-cultures Enzyme promiscuity Tryptamine +6

Effect of psilocybin on decision-making and motivation in the healthy rat.

Behavioural brain research February 25, 2023 Brianna F Roberts, Alexia L Zylko, Courtney E Waters et al. 13 citations

A single 1 mg/kg dose of psilocybin did not alter decision-making in probability or delay discounting tasks and did not reduce motivation in a progressive ratio task in healthy male and female rats. Psilocybin did produce the expected increase in head twitch responses, confirming the drug was pharmacologically active. These results suggest psilocybin may not impair or improve reward-based decision-making or motivation, indicating that its therapeutic effects in mental health disorders may not involve changes to brain systems underlying reward and decision-making. The findings also imply that widespread cognitive impairments may not occur even with chronic psilocybin treatment.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114262 Full text Psilocybin Delay discounting Head twitch response Motivation +8

Psilocybin biosynthesis enhancement through gene source optimization.

Metabolic engineering April 16, 2025 Madeleine R Keller, Madeline G McKinney, Abhishek K Sen et al. 8 citations

Psilocybin, the prodrug to the psychoactive compound in 'magic' mushrooms, is being studied as a treatment for depression and anxiety. Previous biosynthesis in E. coli using genes from Psilocybe cubensis achieved maximum titers of 1.16 g/L. This work tested genes from four psilocybin-producing mushroom species and found that psiD and psiK from P. cubensis performed best, while psiM from Psilocybe cyanescens increased selectivity for the intermediate baeocystin. The strain Gymdi30, with psiM from Gymnopilus dilepis, produced 1.46 ± 0.13 g/L psilocybin, the highest reported titer to date. Comparative proteomic analysis during high and low productivity identified metabolic bottlenecks. This represents a significant improvement toward a biosynthetic manufacturing route for psilocybin.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2025.04.003 Full text Gene source optimization Gymnopilus dilepis Norbaeocystin methyltransferase Promoter library +7