PsiD: The first step in the making of the Magic -ChemBioChem

Characterization of the Gateway Decarboxylase for Psilocybin Biosynthesis

Tim Schäfer, Kristina Kramer, Dr. Sebastiaan Werten, Dr. Bernhard Rupp, Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoffmeister

First published: 03 November 2022

How the magic begins: The l-tryptophan decarboxylase PsiD initiates the biosynthesis of the psychotropic natural product psilocybin in Psilocybe mushrooms. Its in vitro biochemical characterization and in silico modeling of its structure identified a non-canonical serine protease triad for autocatalytic cleavage of the proenzyme. PsiD’s substrate flexibility makes it a versatile catalyst for biotechnological applications.

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