Biotransformation of compactin to pravastatin by Actinomadura sp. 2966

Actinomadura sp. strain 2966 can effectively convert compactin to pravastatin. The degree of conversion observed was 65% to 78% of compactin added and 65% to 88% of compactin taken up, depending on the concentration of compactin and duration of the experiment. Increasing the compactin concentration resulted in a higher final pravastatin concentration especially when compactin was added intermittently. Higher glucose concentrations had no effect on the bioconversion although uptake of compactin was inhibited. The conversion was linear over 16 hours. The system requires no induction and thus appears to be different from previously studied hydroxylases from actinomycetes.