PLEUROTUS FRUITING BODIES CONTAIN THE INHIBITOR OF 3-HYDROXY-3-METHYLGLUTARYL-COENZYME-A REDUCTASE-LOVASTATIN

In the fruiting bodies of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, also called the oyster mushroom, we found a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-m ethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase-lovastatin. The appearance of the i nhibitor during the development of fruiting bodies was followed and lo vastatin determined in the vegetative mycelium, in the primordia, as w ell as in different parts of sporocarps of different sizes. Less lovas tatin was found in stipes as compared to pill or in mature stages in t he lamellae and basidiospores. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.