The Ustilaginaceae are a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

smut fungi The smuts are multicellular fungi characterized by their large numbers of teliospores. The smuts get their name from a Germanic word for dirt because of their dark, thick-walled, and dust-like teliospores. They are mostly Ustilaginomycetes (phylum ...

in the order

Ustilaginomycetes Ustilaginomycetes is the class of true smut fungi. They are plant parasites with about 1400 recognised species in 70 genera. They have a simple septum with a septal pore cap, this is different from Agaricomycotina which has a dolipore septum with ...

. Collectively, the family contains 17 genera and 607

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

Biotechnological relevance

Ustilaginaceae naturally produce a wide range of value-added chemicals (e.g.

secondary metabolite Secondary metabolites, also called specialised metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by any lifeform, e.g. bacteria, fungi, animals, or plants, which are not directly involved in the norma ...

TCA cycle The citric acid cycle (CAC)—also known as the Krebs cycle or the TCA cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle)—is a series of chemical reactions to release stored energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and protein ...

intermediates) with growing biotechnological interest. Reported metabolites are

polyol In organic chemistry, a polyol is an organic compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups (). The term "polyol" can have slightly different meanings depending on whether it is used in food science or polymer chemistry. Polyols containing two, thr ...

s, organic acids, extracellular glycolipids, iron-chelating

siderophore Siderophores (Greek: "iron carrier") are small, high-affinity iron- chelating compounds that are secreted by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. They help the organism accumulate iron. Although a widening range of siderophore functions is n ...

s and

tryptophan Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α-carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic ...

derivatives. Polyols, such as

erythritol Erythritol is an organic compound, a four-carbon sugar alcohol (or polyol) with no optical activity, used as a food additive and sugar substitute. It is naturally occurring. It can be made from corn using enzymes and fermentation. Its formula is ...

(ery) and

mannitol Mannitol is a type of sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and medication. It is used as a low calorie sweetener as it is poorly absorbed by the intestines. As a medication, it is used to decrease pressure in the eyes, as in glaucoma, and to lo ...

, for example, have large markets as

sweeteners A sugar substitute is a food additive that provides a sweetness like that of sugar while containing significantly less food energy than sugar-based sweeteners, making it a zero-calorie () or low-calorie sweetener. Artificial sweeteners may be d ...

for diabetics and as facilitating agents for the transportation of pharmaceuticals in medicine. Itaconic, L- malic, succinic, ''l''- itatartaric, and ''l''-2- hydroxyparaconic acid are organic acids produced by many

. Applications for itaconic acid are for example the production of resins, plastics, adhesives, elastomers, coatings, and nowadays itaconate is discussed as a platform chemical in the production of biofuels. Malic acid is used in many food products, primarily as an acidulant. Succinic acid is utilized as a precursor to pharmaceutical ingredients, such as additives, solvents, and polymers, but also as a food additive and dietary supplement. Another category of metabolites produced by smut fungi contains extracellular glycolipids, such as mannosylerythritol lipids and ustilagic acid. These lipids have

biosurfactant Biosurfactant usually refers to surfactants of microbial origin. Most of the biosurfactants produced by microbes are synthesized extracellularly and many microbes are known to produce biosurfactants in large relative quantities. Some are of commerc ...

properties and can be used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications and are known for their strong fungicidal activity on many species.

Genera

*'' Ahmadiago'' *'' Aizoago'' *'' Anomalomyces'' *'' Anthracocystis'' *'' Bambusiomyces'' *'' Centrolepidosporium'' *'' Eriocaulago'' *'' Eriomoeszia'' *'' Eriosporium'' *'' Franzpetrakia'' *'' Macalpinomyces'' *'' Melanopsichium'' *'' Moesziomyces'' *'' Parvulago'' *'' Pericladium'' *'' Pseudozyma'' *''

Sporisorium ''Sporisorium'' is a fungus genus in the Ustilaginaceae family.Taxonomic revision of Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces. A.R. McTaggart, R.G. Shivas, A.D.W. Geering, K. Vánky and T. Scharaschkin, Persoonia, 2012, volume 29, pages 116–1 ...

'' *'' Stollia'' *'' Tranzscheliella'' *'' Tubisorus'' *''

Ustilago ''Ustilago'' is a genus of approximately 200 smut fungi parasitic on grasses. Uses ''Ustilago maydis'' is eaten as a traditional Mexican food in many parts of the country, and is even available canned. Farmers have even been known to spread th ...

References

External links

* Ustilaginomycotina Basidiomycota families Taxa named by Edmond Tulasne Taxa described in 1847 {{Ustilaginomycotina-stub