Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
January 9, 2024
Virginia Ramírez-Cruz, Giuliana Furci, Alexander J. Bradshaw et al.
30 citations
The psychedelic alkaloid psilocybin, driving Psychedelics and Drug Studies, first evolved in the mushroom genus Psilocybe around 67 million years ago. Evolutionary biology indicates its biosynthetic gene cluster transferred horizontally 4 to 5 times to other fungi between 40 and 9 million years ago. Using 71 fungal metagenomes, Phylogenetics of 2,983 gene families reveals Psilocybe's deep Biology. Two distinct psilocybin gene cluster arrangements correspond to major clades, suggesting independent acquisitions of this alkaloid's chemical synthesis, impacting Fungal Biology and Applications.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
July 25, 2018
Ali R. Awan, Jaclyn M. Winter, Daniel J. Turner et al.
26 citations
preprint
Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in dozens of mushroom species, is being studied for treating addiction, depression, and end-of-life suffering. New genome analyses of the hallucinogenic mushrooms Psilocybe cyanescens and Pluteus salicinus confirm and refine the genes responsible for psilocybin biosynthesis, showing that a previously implicated transcription factor is not part of that gene cluster. The mushroom Inocybe corydalina produces psilocybin but lacks the established cluster, and an alternative cluster is described. Meta-transcriptome analysis of wild mushrooms reveals gene expression from fly larvae growing inside Psilocybe cyanescens, and these larvae were reared to adulthood. Psilocybin does not fully protect against insect consumption, suggesting its ecological role as a defense compound may need rethinking.
bioRxiv
December 15, 2022
Alexander J Bradshaw, Virginia Ramírez-Cruz, Ali R. Awan et al.
5 citations
preprint
Psilocybin, the psychoactive compound in Psilocybe mushrooms, first evolved in that genus, with 4–5 possible horizontal gene transfers to other mushroom species occurring between 40 and 22 million years ago. Sequencing 71 fungarium specimens and analyzing 2,983 single-copy gene families produced a fully supported phylogeny, showing the stem lineage arose about 66 million years ago and diversified around 53 million years ago. Two distinct gene orders within the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster correspond to a deep split within Psilocybe, possibly indicating independent acquisition of the cluster. This may predict chemical differences between the two major clades, aiding development of novel therapeutics.