The molecular basis of the antidepressant action of the magic mushroom extract, psilocin.

Psilocin, the active form of psilocybin in magic mushrooms, binds more strongly to the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) than the natural hormone serotonin does. Using molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations, the authors show that this higher binding affinity is due to psilocin's tertiary amine group, not the different position of its hydroxyl group. The binding strength depends on the protonation states of both psilocin and a key receptor residue, aspartate 155. These molecular insights suggest design rules for developing more effective antidepressants.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Magic mushrooms, and their extract psilocybin, are well-known for their psychedelic properties and recreational use. Psilocin, the bio-active form of psilocybin, can potentially treat various psychiatric diseases. Psilocin putatively exerts its psychedelic effect as an agonist to the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), which is also the receptor for the neurological hormone serotonin. The two key chemical differences between the two molecules are first, that the primary amine in serotonin is replaced with a tertiary amine in psilocin, and second, the hydroxyl group is substituted differently on the aromatic ring. Here, we find that psilocin can bind to 5-HT2AR with an affinity higher than serotonin, and provide the molecular logic behind the higher binding affinity of psilocin using extensive molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. The binding free energy of psilocin is dependent upon the protonation states of the ligands, as well as that of the key residue in the binding site: Aspartate 155. We find that the tertiary amine of psilocin, and not the altered substitution of the hydroxyl group in the ring is responsible for the increased affinity of psilocin. We propose design rules for effective antidepressants based on molecular insights from our simulations.