Lovastatin biosynthesis enhanced by thiamine in Aspergillus terreus

Lovastatin is a cholesterol-lowering agent, which plays a role of an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA). When thiamine was supplemented in 3L batch fermentation, the production of lovastatin was improved. At the same time, the levels of pyruvic acid and NAD(P)H were estimated in the course of the fermentation of A. terreus. For the high level production of lovastatin, semi fed-batch fermentation was performed. And the thiamine level was maintained to a concentration of 20 mg/L and glucose was supplied. The final dry cell weight was lowered by 30 % and final lovastatin concentration was increased by 33 %. Final lovastatin concentration of 3.3 g/L was achieved in 8 days.