Biosynthesis of Lovastatin by Gamma Irradiated Aspergillus terreus

Abstract

is the first compound of its kind to become available for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. This fungal secondary metabolite is produced by Aspergillus, Monascus and Penicillium species, via the polyketide synthase (PKSs). The role of hypercholesterolemia as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, and ischemic heart disease was indicated by the clinical, epidemiologic and pathologic studies.In the present study, gamma irradiated of selected highly lovastatin producer Aspergillus terreus isolate (A. terreus S3γ8) was employed for lovastatin production in submerged fermentation (SmF) conditions. Different fermentation parameters including: incubation period, initial pH of the medium, temperature, different carbon and nitrogen sources, type of inoculum and agitation; were carried out under SmF conditions to enhance the lovastatin production. The maximum lovastatin production (547.33 mg/l) was achieved at initial pH 6, incubation temperature 30 °C, agitation rate 150 rpm, 4% soluble starch and 0.3% yeast extract as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, after 8 days when the production medium (which containing bio-elements: KH 2 PO 4, MgSO 4 and MnSO 4 ) was inoculated with 48 h age from seed culture inoculum.

Production of Lovastatin using Liquid Cheese Whey by Fusarium nectrioides (MH173849), an Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Euphorbia hirta

“…Research indicated that it could also increase the chances of getting diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, Ischemic heart stroke, obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers. The liver predominantly synthesizes cholesterol in a series of more than 25 enzyme-driven steps, and the rest is derived from the food we consume 1,2 . Biosynthesis of cholesterol in the body takes place through the mevalonic acid pathway.…”

“…The predominant enzyme targeted for controlling the cholesterol level is 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the rate-limiting and regulatory enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. The group of compounds that inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase is the statin group of molecules 1,3 .…”

“…It is involved in the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. Lovastatin also works as an in vivo competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase for humans and animals as well as in plants and is hence used to treat hypercholesterolemia 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8] . Lovastatin is available in the lactone form but converted to β-hydroxy acid invivo, the active state.…”

“…Also, Scopolariopsis, Paecilomyces, Phoma, Gymnoascus, Doratomyces, Pleurotus, Phythium, and Hypomyces have shown the potential to produce lovastatin. Mushrooms like Agaricusbisporus, Pleurotusostreatus, and P.citrinopileatus have been used to produce lovastatin 1,2,4,[8][9][10] .…”