title: Strain improvement by overexpression of the laeA gene in Monascus pilosus for the production of monascus-fermented rice.
abstract: Monascus species have been used to produce fermented rice called Monascus-fermented rice (MFR). To improve a Monascus strain via activation of secondary metabolite (SM) gene clusters for use in the production of MFR, we overexpressed an ortholog of the laeA gene, which encodes a global positive regulator of secondary metabolism under the control of the strong heterologous Aspergillus nidulans alcA promoter in Monascus pilosus. The OE::laeA transformant produced more SMs, including those not detected under uninduced conditions. MFR produced using the M. pilosus OE::laeA strain contained 4 times more monacolin K, a cholesterol-lowering agent, than MFR produced using the wild-type strain. In addition, pigment production was remarkably increased, and the antioxidant activity was increased as well. The results from this study suggest that Monascus species, which are important industrial fermentative fungi in Asia, can be improved for the production of functional foods by overexpressing the laeA gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Fermentation Fusion Science and Technology, Kookmin University, Seoul 136-702, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Sub
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Inhyung
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001208:Asia; D001233:Aspergillus nidulans / Q000235:genetics; D001688:Biological Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D005516:Food Microbiology / Q000379:methods*; D015870:Gene Expression; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000378:metabolism; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D032741:Monascus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000378:metabolism*; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001688:Biological Products; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008148:Lovastatin