Selective Phosphorylation of Phenols and Benzenediols by the Kinase PsiK and Variants Thereof

Phosphorylation plays important roles in biology by modulating the structure, reactivity, and biological function of a broad range of molecules. Biocatalytic phosphorylation has attracted attention from synthetic chemists due to its selectivity and mild reaction conditions using ATP as a phosphate donor. Given the potential synthetic utility of kinases with activity on small molecule substrates, we explored the activity of PsiK, the enzyme responsible for selective 4-O-phosphorylation of 4-hydroxytryptamine or psilocin in psylocybin biosynthesis by Psilocybe cubensis. We find that PsiK has good activity on a range of substituted phenols and benzenediols beyond its native substrate, enabling preparative phosphorylation of different substrates and gram-scale phosphorylation of a representative substrate with a turnover number over 10,000.