Has a Role in the Secretion of Mannosylerythritol Lipids.

Mannosyl erythritol lipids (MELs) are glycolipid biosurfactants produced by yeasts. The MEL biosynthetic pathway has been characterized in where a putative transporter encoded by is required for the secretion of the glycolipid surfactant to the extracellular space. The anamorphic yeast is a prolific producer of MELs, but the mechanism of MEL secretion is less well characterized than in . Homologous recombination was employed to generate a disruption of the gene in JCM10317. This mutation did not prevent the intracellular accumulation of MEL species but did result in significantly reduced secretion of the conventional MEL-A, MEL-B and MEL-C species detectable by thin-layer chromatography. However, the mutant strain did secrete a glycolipid species that is distinct from conventional MEL-A/B/C and similar to a glycolipid secreted by mutant strains of and . Despite the defect in MEL secretion displayed by the strain harbouring a disrupted gene, these cells did not display a significant defect in growth or cell morphology. The findings of this investigation provide evidence that encodes a transporter required for the secretion of MELs but not required for MEL synthesis or cell growth.