Publications

• Enzymatic synthesis of psilocybin.

  Fricke J., Blei F., Hoffmeister D.

  Psilocybin is the psychotropic tryptamine-derived natural product of Psilocybe carpophores, the so-called "magic mushrooms". Although its structure has been known for 60 years, the enzymatic basis of its biosynthesis has remained obscure. We characterized four psilocybin biosynthesis enzymes, name ... >> More

  Psilocybin is the psychotropic tryptamine-derived natural product of Psilocybe carpophores, the so-called "magic mushrooms". Although its structure has been known for 60 years, the enzymatic basis of its biosynthesis has remained obscure. We characterized four psilocybin biosynthesis enzymes, namely i) PsiD, which represents a new class of fungal l-tryptophan decarboxylases, ii) PsiK, which catalyzes the phosphotransfer step, iii) the methyltransferase PsiM, catalyzing iterative N-methyl transfer as the terminal biosynthetic step, and iv) PsiH, a monooxygenase. In a combined PsiD/PsiK/PsiM reaction, psilocybin was synthesized enzymatically in a step-economic route from 4-hydroxy-l-tryptophan. Given the renewed pharmaceutical interest in psilocybin, our results may lay the foundation for its biotechnological production. << Less

  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 56:12352-12355(2017) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 6 other entries.

• Partial purification and some properties of tryptophan decarboxylase from a Bacillus strain.

  Buki K.G., Vinh D.Q., Horvath I.

  Bacteria of different origin were screened for tryptophan decarboxylase activity. The best producer belonged to an unidentified taxonomic entity of the genus Bacillus. In complete medium it produced tryptamine from tryptophan. The decarboxylase could partially be purified from the cells by sonicat ... >> More

  Bacteria of different origin were screened for tryptophan decarboxylase activity. The best producer belonged to an unidentified taxonomic entity of the genus Bacillus. In complete medium it produced tryptamine from tryptophan. The decarboxylase could partially be purified from the cells by sonication and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The enzyme had an Mr of 150 000 and a pH optimum of about 7, was stable up to 37 degrees C, and its Km was about 0.3 mM for tryptophan. The enzyme needed pyridoxal phosphate for maximum activity. << Less

  Acta Microbiol Hung 32:65-73(1985) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Tryptophan decarboxylase from Catharanthus roseus cell suspension cultures: purification, molecular and kinetic data of the homogenous protein.

  Noe W., Mollenschott C., Berlin J.

  The purification of tryptophan decarboxylase from Catharanthus roseus (TDC, E.C.:4.1.1.27), to apparent homogeneity, is described. The enzyme represents a soluble protein with a molecular weight of 115 000±3 000, consisting of 2 identical subunits of 54 000±1 000. The pI was estimated to be 5.9 an ... >> More

  The purification of tryptophan decarboxylase from Catharanthus roseus (TDC, E.C.:4.1.1.27), to apparent homogeneity, is described. The enzyme represents a soluble protein with a molecular weight of 115 000±3 000, consisting of 2 identical subunits of 54 000±1 000. The pI was estimated to be 5.9 and the Km for L-tryptophan was found to be 7.5×10(-5) M. Phenylalanine, tyrosine and DOPA were not decarboxylated by tryptophan decarboxylase from Catharanthus cells. Similar to the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase from hog kidney the enzyme does not appear to be obligatorily dependent on exogenously supplied pyridoxal phosphate, as it seems to contain a certain amount of this cofactor. The average percentage of TDC in the cells was found to be 0.002% in the growth medium while the level increased up to 0.03% when indole alkaloid biosynthesis was induced. The role of the protein as a bottleneck enzyme of indole alkaloid biosynthesis is discussed. << Less

  Plant Mol Biol 3:281-288(1984) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Tryptophan decarboxylase is encoded by two autonomously regulated genes in Camptotheca acuminata which are differentially expressed during development and stress.

  Lopez-Meyer M., Nessler C.L.

  Camptothecin (CPT) is a valuable anti-cancer monoterpene alkaloid produced by the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata. Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) supplies tryptamine for the indole moiety of CPT and its derivatives, and is considered a key step in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis as it ... >> More

  Camptothecin (CPT) is a valuable anti-cancer monoterpene alkaloid produced by the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata. Tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) supplies tryptamine for the indole moiety of CPT and its derivatives, and is considered a key step in monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis as it links primary and secondary metabolism. This report describes the isolation and characterization of tdc1 and tdc2, two autonomously regulated TDC genes from Camptotheca. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the products of each gene could decarboxylate tryptophan, but were inactive against tyrosine, phenylalanine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa), tdc1 was developmentally regulated, having its highest expression level in the apex, young stem and bark, tissues which also contain the highest levels of CPT. Expression of tdc1 also increased during seedling development and was correlated with alkaloid accumulation during germination. tdc2 expression was induced in Camptotheca leaf discs and cell suspension cultures treated with fungal elicitor or methyl jasmonate, treatments which did not affect tdc1 expression. Unlike tdc1, tdc2 expression was not detected in any unstressed Camptotheca tissues nor in developing seedlings. These data suggest that tdc1 may be part of a developmentally regulated chemical defense system in Camptotheca, while tdc2 serves as part of a defense system induced during pathogen challenge. << Less

  Plant J. 11:1167-1175(1997) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Constitutive aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase from Micrococcus percitreus.

  Nakazawa H., Kumagai H., Yamada H.

  Biochem Biophys Res Commun 61:75-82(1974) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]