MICROBIAL CONVERSION MEVINOLIN

About 3000 microorganisms (bacteria, Actinomyces, Zygomyces, Deuteromy ces) were screened for their capacity to convert mevinolin. Absidia co erulea IDR 705 was found to produce two hydroxylated derivatives of me vinolin, 2 and 3. Compound 2 is a new transformation product while com pound 3 was described as a chemical modification product of mevinolin( 1)). By combination of spectroscopic techniques, the structures of 2 a nd 3 were identified with -hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-naphthalen-1-yl)-hep tanoic acid delta-lactone and 8-(2-methyl-butyryloxy)-naphthalen-1-yl] -heptanoic acid delta-lactone, respectively. The inhibitory effects of the two derivatives on the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase were similar to that of mevinolin.