Open AccessScreening fungi for the production of an inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase: Production of mevinolin by the fungi of the genus Pleurotus
Author(s) -
GundeCimerman Nina,
Friedrich Jožica,
Cimerman Aleksa,
Benički Neda
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06386.x
Subject(s) - pleurotus , hmg coa reductase , genus , biology , reductase , production (economics) , botany , enzyme , biochemistry , economics , mushroom , macroeconomics
Abstract We have tested 380 strains of our Fungal Culture Collection (MZKIBK), for the activity of the inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, mevinolin. All fungal strains were cultivated in a two‐step submerged fermentation on selected substrates. For the first screening, samples of broth extracts were tested by TLC and positive results were further evaluated by HPLC analysis. In addition to already known microbiol producers of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors and some newly identified strains having moderate activity, we found that fungi of the basidiomycetous genus Pleurotus , especially species P. ostreatus, P. saca and P. sapidus , are an as yet unknown but promising source of the hypocholesterolaemic agent.