Biosynthesis of monacolins: conversion of monacolin J to monacolin K (mevinolin).

tiydroxylation of monacolin L to monacolin J by M. ruberlt8). The present communication deals with the transformation of monacolin J to monacolin K by a cell-free extract of M. ruber and by living cells of Paecilomyces viridis. The latter fungus is known to produce compactin (ML-236B) analogs, another family of HMG-CoAreductase inhibitors6). M. ruber M4681 was grown aerobically in a medium containing glycerol 7%, glucose 3%, meat extract 3%, peptone 0.8%, NaNO3 0.2% and MgSO4à"7H2O0.1% at 25°C for 2 days. The culture broth (100ml) was filtered and the mycelia were washed with 50 him potassium phosphate buffer, pH 8.3, containing 2mMEDTA.The washed mycelia (1.5g) were ground at 0°C for 5 minutes with 3 g of alumina and 0.8 ml of 50 mMpotassium phosphate buffer, pH 8.3, containing 2mM EDTA, imM