All Dirk Hoffmeister articles
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NewsMagic mushrooms invent active compound twice
A study shows that fungi have developed the ability to produce psilocybin at least twice independently of each other. While Psilocybe species use a known enzyme toolkit for this purpose, fiber cap mushrooms employ a different biochemical arsenal – and yet arrive at the same molecule.
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NewsInactive mushroom toxin can become poison when eaten
Muscarine can be stored as a harmless precursor in mushrooms and only be released when mushrooms get injured.
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NewsFungus yields different pathway to the same pharmaceutically important substance
Researchers analyze a fungal biosynthetic pathway and discover a capable enzyme.