Serine Hydrolase-Catalyzed Polyol Lipids are Necessary for Rodlet Layer Formation on the Cell Wall of Entomopathogenic Fungi

Some key secondary metabolism genes are important for driving the infection process of entomopathogenic fungi; however, their chemical substance basis has not been well investigated. Here, mixtures of polyol lipids are discovered, which are synthesized through iterative chain transfer-esterification-hydrolysis cycles catalyzed by serine hydrolase during the release of online highly reducing polyketide intermediates. Importantly, an in vivo gene knockout experiment revealed that the synthesis of polyol lipids is necessary for rodlet layer formation on the cell wall of Beauveria bassiana. Our work uncovers an unexpected way for the synthesis of polyol lipids and illuminates a new perspective on their part in significant physiological processes in entomopathogenic fungi.