A scalable method combining chemical and biological steps to produce psilocybin

One gram of psilocybin was produced from psilocin within 20 minutes using the mushroom enzyme PsiK.

• The problematic phosphorylation step in psilocybin synthesis was replaced with an enzymatic process.
• Recombinant PsiK was produced in a pilot-scale protocol, yielding 150 mg of active and soluble enzyme.
• This method combines the ease of tryptamine chemistry with the precision of enzymatic reactions.
• The approach may facilitate access to psilocybin as a medication for treatment-resistant depression.

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