Lovastatin是Aspergillus和Monascus等丝状真菌的次生代谢产物,在人体内通过竞争性地抑制胆固醇合成的限速酶3-羟-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶而阻断内源性胆固醇的合成,强烈降低血胆固醇浓度,是预防和治疗高血脂症和高胆固醇症及相关病症的有效药物。近年来,研究人员对液态发酵产Lovastatin开展了广泛深入的研究,取得了一系列重要研究进展,促进了工业化生产Lovastatin的发展。文中对Lovastatin高产菌种及选育、碳源和氮源及发酵培养条件对不同菌种产Lovastatin的影响等方面的研究进展进行了综述,为相关的研究与应用提供参考。

Lovastatin is a secondary metabolite produced by filamentous fungi,such as Aspergillus terreus and Monascus sp.Lovastatin competitively inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA(HMG-CoA) reductase,the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis and lower plasma cholesterol level,particularly lower low density lipoprotein level in human.Lovastatin can reduce the risk for coronary artery disease morbidity and has emerged as a preventive drug for hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease.Recently,many studies have been done on the production of lovastatin by liquid fermentation and a series of the important results have been achieved.Therefor,in this paper we review the research progresses on the microbe strains and the strain screening,the effects of carbon and nitrogen source and the fermentation conditions on the production of lovastatin by various fungi under liquid fermentation.