Abstract: The high-yield lovastatin Monascus strain M120-1 screened by UV mutagenesis was used as the starting strain for extractioning total RNA. LovD gene was cloned by RT-PCR technique to construct expression vectors. The genetic transformation of Monascus spp. was obtained and the high-yield lovastatin transforming strains were screened by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the total RNA of Monascus spp. was extracted and the expression vector was established, and twelve transformants were selected at random and 10 strains were successfully transformed by PCR. The lovastatin production was determined by HPLC and the yield of lovastatin was 0.55 mg/mL in one strain, which was 63% higher than that of the original strain. The strain was subcultured and had good genetic stability.

Key words: Monascus, lovastatin, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, genetic transformation