Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound produced by certain species of fungi, primarily those of the Psilocybe genus. In recent years, due to psilocybin’s promising therapeutic effects—particularly in the treatment of depression—scientific interest in the compound has been reignited. The purpose of this thesis was to review chemical and physical properties of psilocybin, its biosynthesis, therapeutic potential, and the possibilities of its production using genetically modified microorganisms. Various production methods were reviewed, including chemical synthesis, enzymatic synthesis (biotransformation), and biosynthesis. The work also describes procedures for isolating psilocybin from bioprocess broth. Several production organisms were introduced, with a more detailed focus on biosynthesis using the bacterium Escherichia coli. The thesis identified key advantages of biosynthesis, such as scalability, high titers, and system flexibility. Currently, the highest psilocybin titers achieved via biosynthesis reach up to 1.46 g/L, this type of process involves the use of intermediates; without them, production titers remain very low. »De novo« production of psilocybin in prokaryotes is possible, but requires substantial optimization to become suitable for industrial-scale manufacturing. Based on the reviewed literature, the thesis confirms that biotechnological production of psilocybin is feasible, but further improvements are necessary to enable its pharmaceutical-scale application.
|
