Identification of a gene cluster for biosynthesis of Mannosylerythritol lipids in the basidiomycetous fungus Ustilago maydis

The identification of a gene cluster for mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL) biosynthesis, which consists of five open reading frames, is described. The mutation analysis demonstrates that putative acyltransferases Mac1 and Mac2 are essential for MEL biosynthesis and acetyltransferase Mat1 catalyzes the acetylation of mannosylerythritol lipids in Ustilago maydis.