BioQuest | Vol. 2, No. 1 (July 2018)
“Magic Mushrooms” (MM) also called
“shrooms” are an interesting and new type of
adaptations that are inherited for advanced survival
skills among different species of fungus. Insects fed on
MM gets “trippy, thereby repelling insects by
manipulating their neurochemistry. Genomic analysis
of three hallucinogenic MM’s identified cluster of
genes coding for hallucinogenic compounds and
evidence for their horizontal transfer among fungal
lineages (Reynolds et al., 2018). The compounds
characterized as psilocybin and psilocin (serotonin
receptor agonists), are basically tryptophan
secondary metabolite which render psychoactive state,
euphoria and other trippy expressions in humans.
These "magic mushrooms" were earlier used in
Central American religious ceremonies, and later
entered major black markets across many countries. It is
also banned in some countries like the United States of
America.
Even a least quantity is enough for the altered
feeling but quantitative analysis suggests that one gram
of dried magic mushrooms ingested orally is
to produce a mild effect, while 1-2.5
moderate to 2.5 grams and above usually produces
strong effects on the consumer. The mushrooms seem
to provide a soothing, relaxing feeling, but in reality it
actually boosts the brain's neuronal connectivity. This
was demonstrated in a study including 15 volunteers
who undergo brain scanning by a functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) machine (Carhart
al., 2012). The connectivity brain maps of the
volunteers before and after ingestion were scanned to
reveal that the brain synchronises activity among areas
that would not connect normally. Scientists also provide
evidence that this can also slow down brain activity.
Another remarkable side effect of consuming
magic mushrooms is that they erase frightening
memories and encourage new brain cell growth in mice.
Magic mushrooms Psilocybe
Das R, Debnath R*
Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Jorhat
* Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected]
“Magic Mushrooms” (MM) also called
“shrooms” are an interesting and new type of
adaptations that are inherited for advanced survival
skills among different species of fungus. Insects fed on
MM gets “trippy, thereby repelling insects by
Genomic analysis
three hallucinogenic MM’s identified cluster of
genes coding for hallucinogenic compounds and
evidence for their horizontal transfer among fungal
lineages (Reynolds et al., 2018). The compounds
characterized as psilocybin and psilocin (serotonin
gonists), are basically tryptophan-derived
secondary metabolite which render psychoactive state,
euphoria and other trippy expressions in humans.
These "magic mushrooms" were earlier used in
Central American religious ceremonies, and later
lack markets across many countries. It is
also banned in some countries like the United States of
Even a least quantity is enough for the altered
feeling but quantitative analysis suggests that one gram
mushrooms ingested orally is sufficient
2.5 grams for
grams and above usually produces
strong effects on the consumer. The mushrooms seem
to provide a soothing, relaxing feeling, but in reality it
connectivity. This
was demonstrated in a study including 15 volunteers
who undergo brain scanning by a functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI) machine (Carhart-Harris et
al., 2012). The connectivity brain maps of the
ion were scanned to
reveal that the brain synchronises activity among areas
that would not connect normally. Scientists also provide
evidence that this can also slow down brain activity.
Another remarkable side effect of consuming
they erase frightening
memories and encourage new brain cell growth in mice.
In one of the study Catlow and co
studied conditioning of fear in mice with and without
psilocybin dosage. They found that the mice when
dosed with the hallucinogen
shock were relieved of the fearful response to noise
typically associated with the electric shock. That a
hallucinated mouse frightens less as compared
previously on first encounter of the electric shock
provides support that the normal mice could learn to
associate the noise with the painful electric shock.
Mice that were not given the drug also
gradually got used to the noise too, but it took longer
duration of time. Such studies provide hope and inspire
more work on how magic mushrooms might be used to
treat mental health problems. According to a 2005
review, there are 144 species of the genus Psilocybe
(Basidiomycotina, Agaricales, Strophariaceae) that are
reported to contain the psychoactive ingredient
psilocybin and distributed globally. The diversity of
MM’s provide an important bioresource to conduct
molecular pharmacological studies in treating post
traumatic stress disorder.
References
Catlow B, Song S, Paredes D, Kirstein C
Ramos J (2013) Effect of psilocybin
Psilocybe cubensis
Central Muga Eri Research & Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Jorhat-785700, Assam, India
34
In one of the study Catlow and co-workers (2013)
studied conditioning of fear in mice with and without
psilocybin dosage. They found that the mice when
psilocybin post electric
shock were relieved of the fearful response to noise
typically associated with the electric shock. That a
hallucinated mouse frightens less as compared
previously on first encounter of the electric shock
normal mice could learn to
associate the noise with the painful electric shock.
Mice that were not given the drug also
gradually got used to the noise too, but it took longer
duration of time. Such studies provide hope and inspire
ushrooms might be used to
treat mental health problems. According to a 2005
review, there are 144 species of the genus Psilocybe
(Basidiomycotina, Agaricales, Strophariaceae) that are
reported to contain the psychoactive ingredient
ed globally. The diversity of
MM’s provide an important bioresource to conduct
molecular pharmacological studies in treating post-
Catlow B, Song S, Paredes D, Kirstein C, Sanchez-
Ramos J (2013) Effect of psilocybin on
785700, Assam, India
BioQuest | Vol. 2, No. 1 (July 2018)
35
hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace
fear conditioning. Experimental Brain Research,
228: 481-491.
Guzman G (2005) Species diversity of the genus
Psilocybe (Basidiomycotina, Agaricales,
Strophariaceae) in the World Mycobiota, with
special attention to hallucinogenic properties.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 7:
305-331.
Reynolds HT, Vijayakumar V, Gluck-Thaler E,
Korotkin HB, Matheny PB, Slot JC (2018)
Horizontal gene cluster transfer increased
hallucinogenic mushroom diversity. Evolution
Letters, 2: 88-101.
Carhart-Harris RL, Erritzoe D, Williams T, Stone JM,
Reed LJ, Colasanti A, Tyacke RJ et al. (2012)
Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as
determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin.
PNAS, 109: 2138-2143.
Understanding lamin proteins and
their roles in aging and
cardiovascular disease
Borah R
Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute,
Central Silk Board, Lahdoigarh-785008, Jorhat
Email: [email protected]
With increasing age, the risk of cardiovascular
disease increases and also in the vascular cells the
percentage of senescent cells increases at the
atherosclerotic sites. The patients who have accelerated
aging syndrome caused by mutant lamin A protein
which is a structural component in nuclear lamina also
shares many such similarities with normal aged people
including the propensity to develop atherosclerosis.
It has also been seen that there is an
accumulation of pre-lamin A in normal aged vascular
cells and that lamin A is involved as a
mechanosensitive molecule in regulating various
cellular events. The particular reports suggested that the
ectopic expression of mutantlamin A or prelamin not
only causes defects in cell mechanisms but it also
disturbs stress induced mechanotransduction pathway
involving lamin A both of which may contribute to
vascular deregulation. This article helps us to
understand the current understanding of how the lamin
proteins are involved in vascular cell during aging. This
process also helps us particularly to focus on the effect
of mechanical stress from blood flow on nuclear lamina
of the endothelial cells. This also clarifies the role of
lamin A in the progression of atherosclerosis which will
aid in the development of potential therapies for those
suffering from Lamin A associated accelerated aging
syndromes.
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The Costliest Mushroom
The most expensive fungus in the world
isn’t any truffle or Mattake mushroom, it is a dead
caterpillar fungus that grows in the Himalayas.
The cost of the mushroom is about Rs. 10.00
lakhs per kg. This expensive fungus
(Ophiocordyceps sinensis) is called yartsa gunbu.
The fungus is a parasite; it infects ghost moth
caterpillars (Hepialus humuli). The caterpillars
live underground in alpine grass and shrub-lands
on the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas at an
altitude between 3,000 and 5,000 m (9,800 and
16,400 ft). They feed on roots underground and
are more vulnerable to the fungus when they shed
their skin in the late summer. This is also the time
when the fungus releases its spores.