Polyaromatic Resin HP-20 Induced Accumulation of Intermediate Azaphilones in Monascus purpureus ∆mppC and ∆mpp7 Strains.

Monascus purpureus recombinant mppC and mpp7 knockout strains were subjected to extractive fermentation in the context of azaphilone pigment production. Inclusion of Diaion HP-20 resin resulted in the selective production of unreduced azaphilone congeners, in addition to the early intermediate FK17-P2a, from ∆mppC and ∆mpp7 strains that would otherwise mainly produce reduced congeners. Structural determination of two novel unreduced azaphilones from the ∆mpp7 strain was accomplished. The unreduced azaphilone compound was converted into the cognate reduced congener in recombinant M. purpureus strains, demonstrating its intermediate role in azaphilone biosynthesis. This study demonstrates the possibility that extractive fermentation with Diaion HP-20 resin can be used to obtain cryptic azaphilone metabolites.