Refinement of physiological roles for cerato-ulmin by analogy with other hydrophobins.

Cerato-ulmin, a hydrophobic protein produced by the Dutch elm disease fungus Ophiostoma ulmi, is toxic to susceptible elms. The physiological role of this protein may be related to its location on hyphal surfaces. Cerato-ulmin is a member of the hydrophobins, proteins used in the formation of structures involved in asexual reproduction (sporulation and conidiation).