MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

S-Adenosyl-l-Methionine Salvage Impacts Psilocybin Formation in “Magic” Mushrooms

Summary

This research explains how magic mushrooms produce psilocybin through a recycling system for important cellular molecules called SAM. Scientists studied two key enzymes that help regenerate SAM efficiently, allowing mushrooms to make large amounts of psilocybin. Their findings show that when these two enzymes work together, they significantly boost psilocybin production, which could help improve methods to produce this compound for potential depression treatment.

Background

Psilocybe mushrooms biosynthesize psilocybin through a five-step pathway that requires ATP and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) as cofactors. High psilocybin production rates require efficient nucleoside cofactor salvage to maintain SAM regeneration.

Objective

To characterize the adenosine kinase (AdoK) and S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (SahH) from Psilocybe cubensis and demonstrate their roles in facilitating psilocybin biosynthesis through SAM cofactor recycling.

Results

AdoK and SahH genes showed 5-16 fold upregulation in fruiting bodies and primordia correlating with psilocybin production. Biochemical characterization revealed KM values and specific kinetic parameters for both enzymes. Combined SahH and AdoK activity increased baeocystin production 5-fold in vitro by removing inhibitory SAH accumulation.

Conclusion

The SAM salvage cycle enzymes AdoK and SahH are critical for efficient psilocybin biosynthesis. Their concerted removal of SAH facilitates methylation reactions, and these findings suggest strategies to improve yields for biocatalytic psilocybin production.
  • Published in:ChemBioChem,
  • Study Type:Biochemical and Molecular Biology Study,
  • Source: PMID: 31802575, DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900649
Scroll to Top