Felix Blei

Friedrich Schiller University Jena | FSU · Institute of Pharmacy

Bacterial-fungal interactions (BFIs) influence microbial community performance of most ecosystems and elicit specific microbial behaviours, including stimulating specialised metabolite production. Using a simple BFI system encompassing the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the black mould fungus Aspergillus niger, we established a co-cu...

Bacterial-fungal interactions (BFIs) influence microbial community performance of most ecosystems and elicit specific microbial behaviours, including stimulating specialised metabolite production. Using a simple BFI system encompassing the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis and the black mould fungus Aspergillus niger , we established a co-c...

The psychotropic effects of Psilocybe “magic” mushrooms are caused by the L‐tryptophan‐derived alkaloid psilocybin. Despite their significance, the secondary metabolome of these fungi is poorly understood in general. Our analysis of four Psilocybe species identified harmane, harmine, and a range of other L‐tryptophan‐derived β‐carbolines as their n...

Psilocybin and its direct precursor baeocystin are indole alkaloids of psychotropic Psilocybe mushrooms. The pharmaceutical interest in psilocybin as a treatment option against depression and anxiety is currently investigated in advanced clinical trials. Here, we report on a biocatalytic route to synthesize 6‐methylated psilocybin and baeocystin fr...

Psilocybe mushrooms are best known for their L‐tryptophan‐derived psychotropic alkaloid psilocybin. The dimethylation of its precursor norbaeocystin by the enzyme PsiM is a critical step during its biosynthesis. However, the "magic" mushroom Psilocybe serbica also mono‐ and dimethylates L‐tryptophan, which is incompatible with the specificity of Ps...

The fungal genus Psilocybe and other genera comprise numerous mushroom species that biosynthesize psilocybin (4‐phosphoryloxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine). It represents the prodrug to its dephosphorylated psychotropic analog, psilocin. The colloquial term "magic mushrooms" for these fungi alludes to their hallucinogenic effects and to their use as recr...

Psilocybin (4‐phosphoryloxy‐N,N‐dimethyltryptamine) is the main alkaloid of the fungal genus Psilocybe, the so‐called "magic mushrooms". The pharmaceutical interest in this psychotropic natural product as a future medication to treat depression and anxiety is strongly re‐emerging. Here, we present an enhanced enzymatic route of psilocybin productio...

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. These include i) PsiD which represents a new class of fu...

Psilocybin ist der psychotrope, vom Tryptamin abgeleitete Naturstoff der Psilocybe-Fruchtkçrper, der so genannten “Zauberpilze”. Obwohl dessen Struktur seit 60 Jahren bekannt ist, blieb die enzymatische Grundlage ihrer Biosynthese ungekl?rt. Wir charakterisierten vier Psi- locybin-Biosyntheseenzyme, n?mlich i) PsiD, welches zu einer neuen Klasse pi...

Interaction between microbes affects the growth, metabolism and differentiation of members of the microbial community. While direct and indirect competition, like antagonism and nutrient consumption have a negative effect on the interacting members of the population, microbes have also evpolved in nature not only to fight, but in some cases to adap...