Lovastatin

Lovastatin is a fungal metabolite isolated from cultures of aspergillus terreus. The compound is a potent anticholesteremic agent. It inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase (hydroxymethyl- glutaryl coa reductases) which is the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. It also stimulates the production of low-density lipoprotein receptors in the liver. Lovastatin is a hmg-coa reductase inhibitor. The mechanism of action of lovastatin is as a hydroxymethylglutaryl-coa reductase inhibitor.
Lovastatin is a lactone metabolite isolated from the fungus aspergillus terreus with cholesterol-lowering and potential antineoplastic activities lovastatin is hydrolyzed to the active beta-hydroxyacid form, which competitively inhibits 3-hydroxyl-3-methylgutarylcoenzyme a (hmg-coa) reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis. In addition, this agent may induce tumor cell apoptosis and inhibit tumor cell invasiveness, possibly by inhibiting protein farnesylation and protein geranylgeranylation, and may arrest cells in the g1 phase of the cell cycle. The latter effect sensitizes tumor cells to the cytotoxic effects of ionizing radiation.