Enzymatic synthesis of tryptamine and its halogen derivatives selectively labeled with hydrogen isotopes

Hypothetical biosynthetic pathways of pharmaceutically potential hallucinogenic metabolites in Myristicaceae, mechanistic convergence and co-evolutionary trends in plants and humans

The family Myristicaceae harbour mind-altering phenylpropanoids like myristicin, elemicin, safrole, tryptamine derivatives such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) and β-carbolines such as 1-methyl-6-methoxy-dihydro-β-carboline and 2-methyl-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline. This study aimed to systematically review and propose the hypothetical biosynthetic pathways of hallucinogenic metabolites of Myristicaceae which have the potential to be used pharmaceutically. Relevant publications were retrieved from online databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Science Direct and the distribution of the hallucinogens among the family was compiled. The review revealed that the biosynthesis of serotonin in plants was catalysed by tryptamine 5-hydroxylase (T5H) and tryptophan 5-hydroxylase (TPH), whereas in invertebrates and vertebrates only by tryptophan 5-hydroxylase (TPH). Indolethylamine-N-methyltransferase catalyses the biosynthesis of DMT in plants and the brains of humans and other mammals. Caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase catalyses the biosynthesis of both phenylpropanoids and tryptamines in plants. All the hallucinogenic markers exhibited neuropsychiatric effects in humans as mechanistic convergence. The review noted that DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and β-carbolines were natural protectants against both plant stress and neurodegenerative human ailments. The protein sequence data of tryptophan 5-hydroxylase and tryptamine 5-hydroxylase retrieved from NCBI showed a co-evolutionary relationship in between animals and plants on the phylogenetic framework of a Maximum Parsimony tree. The review also demonstrates that the biosynthesis of serotonin, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, 5-hydroxy dimethyltryptamine, and β-carbolines in plants, as well as endogenous secretion of these compounds in the brain and blood of humans and rodents, reflects co-evolutionary mutualism in plants and humans.

Functional characterization of a catalytically promiscuous tryptophan decarboxylase from camptothecin-producing Camptotheca acuminata

Tryptophan decarboxylases (TDCs) are a group of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes involved in the enzymatic conversion of tryptophan into tryptamine, a critical biogenic amine. We herein mined and cloned a TDC-encoding gene, CaTDC3, from camptothecin-producing plant Camptotheca acuminata. The intact CaTDC3 was heterologously overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant CaTDC3 was purified to homogeneity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data analyses of the CaTDC3-catalyzed reaction mixture confirmed the catalytically decarboxylative activity of CaTDC3. CaTDC3 shows strict stereoselectivity for L-tryptophan. Homology modeling and molecular docking implied CaTDC3's recognition of L-tryptophan derivatives and analogs. Substrate scope investigations revealed that the appropriate substituent groups on the indole ring, i.e., hydroxylated and halogenated L-tryptophans, could be recognized by CaTDC3 and the decarboxylation reactions generated the corresponding tryptamines. The C^β -methyl-L-tryptophans were decarboxylated by CaTDC3 efficiently. 1-Thio-L-tryptophan, the NH group of the indole ring replaced by an S atom, could be decarboxylated by CaTDC3. CaTDC3 catalyzed the decarboxylation of 7-aza-L-tryptophan, an N displacement of the C on the aromatic ring, to afford 7-aza-tryptamine. L-Kynurenine, an L-tryptophan degradation product, could be decarboxylated by CaTDC3. The present works uncover a catalytically promiscuous TDC and the TDC is a versatile decarboxylase in synthetic biology for specialized pharmaceutically important substances.

Synthesis of Tryptamines from Radical Cyclization of 2-Iodoaryl Allenyl Amines and Coupling with 2-Azallyls

An efficient synthesis of tryptamines is developed. Indole structures were constructed using 2-iodoaryl allenyl amines as electron acceptors and radical cyclization precursors. Radical-radical coupling of indolyl methyl radicals and azaallyl radicals led to the tryptamine derivatives. The utility and versatility of this method are showcased by the synthesis of 22 examples of tryptamines in ≤88% yield. In each case, indole formation is accompanied by in situ removal of the Boc protecting group.

Fermentative production of halogenated tryptophan derivatives with Corynebacterium glutamicum overexpressing tryptophanase or decarboxylase genes

The aromatic amino acid l‐tryptophan serves as a precursor for many valuable compounds such as neuromodulators, indoleamines and indole alkaloids. In this work, tryptophan biosynthesis was extended by halogenation followed by decarboxylation to the respective tryptamines or cleavage to the respective indoles. Either the tryptophanase genes tnaAs from E. coli and Proteus vulgaris or the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase genes AADCs from Bacillus atrophaeus, Clostridium sporogenes, and Ruminococcus gnavus were expressed in Corynebacterium glutamicum strains producing (halogenated) tryptophan. Regarding indoles, final titers of 16 mg L⁻¹ 7‐Cl‐indole and 23 mg L⁻¹ 7‐Br‐indole were attained. Tryptamine production led to a much higher titer of 2.26 g L⁻¹ upon expression of AADC from B. atrophaeus. AADC enzymes were shown to be active with halogenated tryptophan in vitro and in vivo and supported production of 0.36 g L⁻¹ 7‐Br‐tryptamine with a volumetric productivity of 8.3 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ in a fed‐batch fermentation.

Light-driven decarboxylative deuteration enabled by a divergently engineered photodecarboxylase

Despite the well-established chemical processes for C-D bond formation, the toolbox of enzymatic methodologies for deuterium incorporation has remained underdeveloped. Here we describe a photodecarboxylase from Chlorella variabilis NC64A (CvFAP)-catalyzed approach for the decarboxylative deuteration of various carboxylic acids by employing D2O as a cheap and readily available deuterium source. Divergent protein engineering of WT-CvFAP is implemented using Focused Rational Iterative Site-specific Mutagenesis (FRISM) as a strategy for expanding the substrate scope. Using specific mutants, several series of substrates including different chain length acids, racemic substrates as well as bulky cyclic acids are successfully converted into the deuterated products (>40 examples). In many cases WT-CvFAP fails completely. This approach also enables the enantiocomplementary kinetic resolution of racemic acids to afford chiral deuterated products, which can hardly be accomplished by existing methods. MD simulations explain the results of improved catalytic activity and stereoselectivity of WT CvFAP and mutants.

Tryptophan Metabolism: A Versatile Area Providing Multiple Targets for Pharmacological Intervention

The essential amino acid L-tryptophan (Trp) undergoes extensive metabolism along several pathways, resulting in production of many biologically active metabolites which exert profound effects on physiological processes. The disturbance in Trp metabolism and disposition in many disease states provides a basis for exploring multiple targets for pharmaco-therapeutic interventions. In particular, the kynurenine pathway of Trp degradation is currently at the forefront of immunological research and immunotherapy. In this review, I shall consider mammalian Trp metabolism in health and disease and outline the intervention targets. It is hoped that this account will provide a stimulus for pharmacologists and others to conduct further studies in this rich area of biomedical research and therapeutics.