Question

Write an essay on some of the developments that are leading to improved production of statins by fungi.

Answer 1

• What are statins:- Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. These are members of lipid lowering agents. Various statins are fluvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin etc.
• Production of statins from fungi:- Natural statins can be produced from various species of filamentous fungi. Lovastatin from a strain of aspergillus, mevastatin can be produced from a strain of penicillium.
• Solid state fermentation is used to produce lovastatin usin rice straw as substrate and four pure isolated strains of aspergillus.
• The improved method of fermentation:- The productivity and yield of statins is low in heterologus strains. To improve the yield efficiency classical improvement of statin production straims by UV mutagenesis has been used. But due to some demerits of it, some other advancments performed on the same. By using biotechnolgy homologus strain was cultured.
• Strain improvment:- Various steps taken in order to produce high yield of statins i) Direct amplification of gene ii) cell structure modification, and alteration in morphology iii) modification in primary metabolism genes which eventually leads to high yielding.