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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
Posts: 48,266
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Preprint: Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster 2
#28105157 - 12/19/22 05:53 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Preprint: Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster
Abstract: Psychoactive mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe have immense cultural value and have been used for centuries in Mesoamerica. Despite a recent surge in interest in these mushrooms due to emerging evidence that psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound, is a promising therapeutic for a variety of mental illnesses, their phylogeny and taxonomy remain substantially incomplete. Moreover, the recent elucidation of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cluster is known for only five species of Psilocybe, four of which belong to only one of two major clades. We set out to improve the phylogeny for Psilocybe using shotgun sequencing of 71 fungarium specimens, including 23 types, and conducting phylogenomic analysis using 2,983 single-copy gene families to generate a fully supported phylogeny. Molecular clock analysis suggests the stem lineage arose ∼66 mya and diversified ∼53 mya. We also show that psilocybin biosynthesis first arose in Psilocybe, with 4–5 possible horizontal transfers to other mushrooms between 40 and 22 mya. Moreover, predicted orthologs of the psilocybin biosynthetic genes revealed two distinct gene orders within the cluster that corresponds to a deep split within the genus, possibly consistent with the independent acquisition of the cluster. This novel insight may predict differences in chemistry between the two major clades of the genus, providing further resources for the development of novel therapeutics.
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.12.13.520147v1.full
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Fungus Gnat


Registered: 11/08/22
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Loc: Oregon
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Re: Preprint: Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cl... [Re: Alan Rockefeller]
#28106694 - 12/20/22 10:40 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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That was a fascinating read, even if a lot of it was way over my head.
So many questions, but one really confused me: I have heard you and others say that P. quebecensis is a synonym for P. aztecorum, but those two species show up in separate "clades" that the paper describes. My best guess is that the clades are just based off of the Psilocybin synthesis pathways (if that's the right term) and not the actual genetic relationship, but that still doesn't sit right with me.
Any insight on if that clade diagram has some broader implication to the distinction of those species, or is there something else that I'm missing? The diagrams were not very readable (even after downloading them), so there may have been more clarifying information that I couldn't make out.
Edited by Fungus Gnat (12/21/22 04:57 PM)
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Icyurmt
Strange


Registered: 04/02/20
Posts: 1,625
Loc: 5a
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Re: Preprint: Phylogenomics of the psychoactive mushroom genus Psilocybe and evolution of the psilocybin biosynthetic gene cl... [Re: Alan Rockefeller]
#28106710 - 12/20/22 10:53 PM (1 year, 1 month ago) |
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Very interesting read, a lot of stuff covered. Going to have to digest a bit and reread. I'm also having trouble seeing those downloadable diagrams for whatever reason.
Thank you for posting this Alan!
-------------------- 👁️ 🌊 why you are empty. Hunt for the habitat not the mushroom.
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