The mitogenomic landscape of Banisteriopsis caapi (Malpighiaceae), the sacred liana used for ayahuasca preparation.
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.