[Effect of space flight on yield of Monascus purpureus].
OBJECTIVE
To select high Lovastatin-producing microbial breed by space flight.


METHODS
Monascus purpureus species was carried into space by the recoverable spaceship, "Shenzhou 3". After flight, the strain was rejuvenized, segregated and selected. The content of Lovastatin produced in the solid fermentation was examined.


RESULTS
Mutants with high productivity of Lovastatin were obtained. A series of tests showed that the acquired character of the mutants was stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Space flight is an effective method for the selection of fine strains.
Yin
Hong
H
Xie
Shen-yi
SY
Zhang
Guang-ming
GM
Xie
Shen-meng
SM
D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D032741:Monascus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness
D008148:Lovastatin