Optimized lovastatin production by solid-state fermentation with Aspergillus terreus wildtype strain

CABRAL MARÍA EUGENIA; CASTELLANOS DE FIGUEROA, LUCÍA INÉS; FARIÑA J.I,

Chubut, Argentina

Congreso; XLVI Reunión Anual SAIB; 2010

SAIB

Statins can inhibit the de novo cholesterol biosynthesis at the rate limiting step of HMG-CoA reductase catalysis. For this reason, statins are clinically used as effective drugs for hypercholesterolemia treatment. Objective. This work was aimed at optimizing and simplifying medium composition and fermentation conditions at shake-flask scale. In a second stage, these results were subsequently applied for the massive lovastatin production by Solid Substrate Fermentation (SSF). Methodology. Aspergillus terreus MEC was cultured by submerged fermentation (SF) in lactose-yeast extract medium, in shake flasks at 250 rpm and 25ºC during 14 days. Optimization included different C- and N- sources and the decrease of salts and trace elements concentration. Additionally, the influence of soy flour incorporation and the replacement of lactose by milk whey powder were evaluated. Different solid supports (sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, soy flour) for SSF were assayed. Extracted lovastatin was analyzed by RP-HPLC with a Diode Array Detector. Results and conclusions. A lovastatin production of 63 mg/L could be reached with optimized liquid medium. Production was significantly increased, up to ~1000 mg/L, by SSF including cheap and readily available substrates such as whey milk adsorbed on textured soy flour, highlighting the relevance of fermentation strategies for secondary metabolite production.