NOVEL PSEUDONOCARDIA SP. RMRC PAH4 AND A PROCESS FOR BIOCONVERTING COMPACTIN INTO PRAVASTATIN USING THE SAME

摘要

The invention provides a novel microorganism Pseudonocardia sp. RMRC PAH4 characterized in that it is able to degrade high concentration of quinoline by enrichment culture, shows a high tolerance to compactin-sodium and possesses a high hydroxylation activity of converting compactin-sodium to pravastatin-sodium. The invention relates also a process for converting compactin-sodium into pravastatin-sodium by fermenting said novel microorganism Pseudonocardia sp. RMRC PAH4. Pravastain-sodium is a potent cholesterol-lowering agent used in treatment for hypercholesterolemia.