Compactin

Product Technolgy and high productive strain producing Compactin (Mevastatin, ML-236B)

Usage Intermediate compound for Pravastatin production

Strain-producer Penicillium citrinum

Productivity: around 15 G/L in lab scale fermenters

Fermentation time 216-254 hours (depends on mutant)

Analysis HPLC

Standards Mevastatin (Compactin) of LKT laboratories (USA) cat#M1685 / Mevastatin (Compactin) of Sigma cat#M2537

Remarks Initial productivity of the strain of Penicillium citrinum was 40 mg/L. First mutant with productivity of 2.0 -2.5 G/L in shaken flasks obtained by applying combined (chemical and physical) induced mutagenesis methods after 12 months of studies. Keeping on working at the strain, mutants with productivity more than 3, 4, 5 and 6 G/L were obtained. During experiments easily applicable method was developed for extraction and purification of the product.

Technology Recovery technology for Compactin

Yield 60%

Purity Not less than 90%

Remarks Compactin is another representative of a new class of cholesterol-lowering agents, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Though because of multiple side effects Compactin is not used as a medicine it is an important source for producing Pravastatin (one of advanced cholesterol-lowering agents). At first stage strain of Penicillium citrinum produces Compactin and then the strain of Streptomyces carbophilus by microbial transformation converts it into Pravastatin.