PeerJ
January 1, 2022
Alessandro M Varani, Saura R Silva, Simone Lopes et al.
7 citations
The chloroplast genome of Psychotria viridis, a shrub used in the traditional ayahuasca brew, is 154,106 base pairs long and contains the full set of genes typical of flowering plants. Its mitochondrial genome has a complex structure with at least two alternative circular forms, one 615,370 and the other 570,344 base pairs, and shows evidence of heteroplasmy—the presence of multiple mitochondrial genome variants within an individual. Most mitochondrial genes are present, but several are pseudogenes or missing entirely. Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes across the Rubiaceae family reveals generally conserved structures with minor variations at junction regions. These findings provide foundational genomic resources for this species and may support conservation efforts.
Genetics and molecular biology
January 1, 2024
Edisson Chavarro-Mesa, João Victor Dos Anjos Almeida, Saura R Silva et al.
2 citations
The sacred ayahuasca brew, used by Amazonian indigenous communities and Brazilian religious groups, combines the liana Banisteriopsis caapi (Mariri) with the shrub Psychotria viridis (Chacrona). Chacrona leaves contain the psychedelic DMT, while B. caapi provides beta-carboline alkaloids that prevent DMT's breakdown. Researchers sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of B. caapi, revealing a circular structure of 503,502 base pairs. The mitogenome lacks some ribosomal genes, contains atypical genes, and includes plastid pseudogenes, indicating gene transfer between organelles. A 7-kilobase repetitive segment with copies of rrnL and trnfM genes suggests dynamic mitogenome maintenance. Phylogenetic analysis across 24 Malpighiales placed the sample in the "Tucunacá" ethnovariety, confirming morphological identification.
Functional & integrative genomics
December 30, 2024
Vitor Trinca, Saura R Silva, João V A Almeida et al.
The plastid genome of Mimosa tenuiflora (Jurema-Preta) is 165,639 base pairs long with a typical quadripartite structure and 130 protein-coding genes. Its mitochondrial genome is 617,839 base pairs, contains 107 protein-coding genes, and shows complex structural rearrangements from large repeats, including transferred plastid genes and sequences from non-retroviral RNA mitoviruses. Comparative analysis across Fabaceae species indicates limited conservation, highlighting the dynamic evolution of plant mitochondrial genomes. Phylogenetic placement confirms M. tenuiflora within Caesalpinioideae, closely related to M. pigra and M. pudica. The genomic characterization provides insights for evolutionary studies, population genetics, and potential ethnopharmacological applications.