Biosynthesis of basidiomycete polyenes
Various basidiomycetes produce polyene pigments, for which ecological functions have been assumed or shown. This project aims at characterizing polyene polyketide synthase genes and enzymes of selected basidiomycetes. Further, polyenes will be analyzed chemically and tested for their biological activity. The objective is a more profound understanding of fungal polyketide synthases and their products, and how structural features impact bioactivities. Methodologically, this project emphasizes chemical analysis, yet strongly interfaces with biochemistry, mycology, and molecular biology.
Publications
(2022) Assessment of Bioactivity-Modulating Pseudo-Ring Formation in Psilocin and Related Tryptamines. Chembiochem , e202200183. Details PubMed
(2021) Structure Elucidation and Spectroscopic Analysis of Chromophores Produced by Oxidative Psilocin Dimerization. Chemistry 27(47), 12166-12171. Details PubMed
(2021) Taking Different Roads: l-Tryptophan as the Origin of Psilocybe Natural Products. Chempluschem 86(1), 28-35. (Review) Details PubMed
(2020) Scalable Hybrid Synthetic/Biocatalytic Route to Psilocybin. Chemistry 26(37), 8281-8285. Details PubMed
(2020) The Laetiporus polyketide synthase LpaA produces a series of antifungal polyenes. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 73(10), 711-720. Details PubMed
(2019) Production Options for Psilocybin: Making of the Magic. Chemistry 25(4), 897-903. Details PubMed
(2019) Injury-Triggered Blueing Reactions of Psilocybe Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 59(4), 1450-1454. Details PubMed
(2018) Analysis of basidiomycete pigments in situ by Raman spectroscopy. J Biophotonics 11(6), e201700369. Details PubMed
(2017) Identification of ω-N-Methyl-4-hydroxytryptamine (Norpsilocin) as a Psilocybe Natural Product. J Nat Prod 80(10), 2835-2838. Details PubMed
Supervisor
Start of PhD
April 1, 2017
Doctoral Disputation
August 23, 2022
