Unlocking the biosynthesis of psychedelic-inspired indolethylamines

Abhishek K Sen; J Andrew Jones

doi:10.1016/j.tibs.2023.12.009

Unlocking the biosynthesis of psychedelic-inspired indolethylamines

Trends Biochem Sci. 2024 Mar;49(3):189-191. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.12.009. Epub 2023 Dec 29.

Authors

Abhishek K Sen¹, J Andrew Jones²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA.
² Department of Chemical, Paper, and Biomedical Engineering, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA. Electronic address: jonesj28@miamioh.edu.

PMID: 38160063
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.12.009

Abstract

A recent report by Chen et al. describes the discovery of RmNMT, a highly active and promiscuous tryptamine N-methyltransferase from the cane toad, Rhinella marina. N,N-dimethyltryptamine derivatives produced by this enzyme were then evaluated for their potential to serve as next-generation treatments for mental health disorders.

Keywords: DMT; N-methylation; psychedelic indolethylamine; serotonin receptor binding.

MeSH terms

Hallucinogens* / pharmacology
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine

Substances

Hallucinogens
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine