Renewable carbon sources to biochemicals and -fuels: contributions of the smut fungi Ustilaginaceae

Abstract

The global demand for food, fuels, and chemicals increases annually. Using renewable C-sources (i.e. biomass, CO₂, and organic waste) is a prerequisite for a future free of fossil carbon. The smut fungi Ustilaginaceae naturally produce a versatile spectrum of valuable products, such as organic acids, polyols, and glycolipids, applicable in the food, energy, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sector. Combined with the use of alternative (co-)substrates (e.g. acetate, butanediol, formate, and glycerol), these microorganisms offer excellent potential for industrial biotechnology, thereby overcoming central challenges humankind faces, including CO₂ release and land use. Here, we provide insight into fundamental production capacities, present genetic modifications that improve the biotechnical application, and review recent high-performance engineering of Ustilaginaceae toward relevant platform chemicals.