HPLC analysis on citrinin and lovastatin and their genes expression of two selected Monascus purpureus strains

A physiological and genetic study was conducted to profile two selected of Monascus purpureus strains based on lovastatin produce which was analyzed by HPLC and its gene expression. After completed on producing angkak, a fermented rice product, by each M. purpureus strains at 25°C, HPLC analysis on the yield of citrinin and lovastatin was conducted. The expression of citrinin or lovastatin encoding gene of the two strains was analyzed by using reverse transverse (RT)-PCR of its RNA. Each RNA was extracted from mycelial masses by using Trizol (Invitrogen) kit. The primers used for RT-PCR were pksCT and LovB for citrinin and lovastatin encoding gene respectively. The results showed that the two strains were different physiologically and genetically. M. purpureus Skw2 was high potency as a good producer of lovastatin (38.5 mg/g). Unfortunately, this strain still produced citrinin although at low concentration (13.03 ppm). While M. purpureus Serasi was not good producer of lovastatin (7.4 mg/g). However, based on safety concern on health, M. purpureus Serasi was potential for future use for its benefits application because of its negative result based on the citrinin analysis result. Therefore, enhancement of lovastatin produce would be of one of the interests for further research of this Monascus strain.