Screening of high lovstatin producing strains with compound mutagenesis by UV and DES

In order to improve lovstatin yield of Monascus sp.3.00567, the starting strains were mutagenized by UV and DES, which were primaryly srecreened based on the sensitivity to lovastatin of Neurospora crassa. The secondary screening was made through determinated lovstatin yield of fermentation liquid by HPLC. A high and stable yield mutant was obtained and named Monascus sp.UV-D-9. The lovstatin yield of Monascus sp.UV-D-9 was (0.289±0.02) mg/m L, which increased 82.9% compared with the original strain. Monascus sp.UV-D-9 had certain value as an excellent lovastatin producing strain.