Discovery and characterization of gut microbiota decarboxylases that can produce tryptamine

[DreaMTripper]

Apologies if this has been posted before I couldnt find any reference to it.

Discovery and characterization of gut microbiota decarboxylases that can produce the neurotransmitter tryptamine

Several recent studies describe the influence of the gut microbiota on host brain and behavior. However, the mechanisms responsible for microbiota-nervous system interactions are unknown. Using a combination of genetics, biochemistry, and crystallography, ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An exerpt

In the work reported here, we had originally intended to characterize a pathway for the reductive metabolism of aromatic amino acids by the common gut Firmicute Clostridium sporogenes. In the course of carrying out preliminary experiments, we made the unexpected observation that C. sporogenes ATCC 15579 is capable of decarboxylating tryptophan (Trp) to tryptamine (Figure 1A), an activity that is exceedingly rare among bacteria.

 

[cave paintings]

Nice find!!

Thanks for the share. I've only a read a bit in, but I think the exploration of gut flora seems like a really interesting field to be a part of right now.

Things like this really give a whole new meaning to phrases like "Trust your gut". So many implications and possible connections ramble in my head..

You can see why eating well and taking care of your body really matters in terms of cultivating a nice, biodiverse culture of these friends. Thinking about dietas practiced for various plant medicine practices is interesting too and how it might prime one's physiology for more powerful experiences. DMT particularly has been shown to act at the nervous system and immune 'interface', as characterized recently by the Hungarian lab. They showed a modulation of the immune system's inflammatory responses by DMT I think, and it's fun to wonder about it's ties to the gut flora/serotonergic activity.

Ramble ramble