Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster
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.