Identification of a biosynthesis gene cluster for flocculosin a cellobiose lipid produced by the biocontrol agent Pseudozyma flocculosa

Flocculosin is an antifungal glycolipid produced by the biocontrol fungus Pseudozyma flocculosa. It consists of cellobiose, O‐glycosidically linked to 3,15,16‐trihydroxypalmitic acid. The sugar moiety is acylated with 2‐hydroxy‐octanoic acid and acetylated at two positions. Here we describe a gene cluster comprising 11 genes that are necessary for the biosynthesis of flocculosin. We compared the cluster with the biosynthesis gene cluster for the highly similar glycolipid ustilagic acid (UA) produced by the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. In contrast to the cluster of U. maydis, the flocculosin biosynthesis cluster contains an additional gene encoding an acetyl‐transferase and is lacking a gene homologous to the α‐hydroxylase Ahd1 necessary for UA hydroxylation. The functions of three acyl/acetyl‐transferase genes (Fat1, Fat2 and Fat3) including the additional acetyl‐transferase were studied by complementing the corresponding U. maydis mutants. While P. flocculosa Fat1 and Fat3 are homologous to Uat1 in U. maydis, Fat2 shares 64% identity to Uat2, a protein involved in UA biosynthesis but with so far unknown function. By genetic and mass spectrometric analysis, we show that Uat2 and Fat2 are necessary for acetylation of the corresponding glycolipid. These results bring unique insights into the biocontrol properties of P. flocculosa and opportunities for enhancing its activity.