Bioconversion of compactin into pravastatin by Streptomyces sp.

Streptomyces sp. Y-110, isolated from soil, modified compactin to pravastatin, a therapeutic agent for hypercholesterolemia. In a batch culture, the highest production of pravastatin was 340 mg l^-1 from 750 mg compactin l^-1 in 24 h. By intermittent feeding of compactin into the culture medium, both the compactin concentration and its conversion increased to 2000 mg l^-1 and 1000 mg pravastatin l^-1, respectively, with the conversion rate of 10 mg l^-1 h^-1. Continuous feeding of compactin increased production of pravastatin to 15 mg l ^-1 h^-1.