Fermentation products of filamentous fungus Monascus spp. have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries for thousands of years. Nowadays, the secondary metabolites of Monascus gained an increasing attention, such as Monascus pigments and Monacolin K. However, low yields of MK have been greatly impacting the development of red mold rice products. In an effort to increasing MK products, a random mutant of M. purpureus ZZ (“XX-1”) with a high MK yield was obtained. To analyze the regulation mechanisms and biosynthesis of pigments and MK, transcriptome analysis was performed on the lag phase, log phase and stationary phase of M. purpureus XX-1. By comparing transcriptome analysis, it was found that the key gene mok A of MK synthesis was highly expressed in the log phase and stationary phase of M. purpureus XX-1, indicating that there may be genes related to MK synthesis during evolution. Surprisingly, the yield of pigment produced by the XX-1 mutant was significantly increased. This work will help to study the red yeast MK and pigment biosynthesis pathways, which will enhance our understanding of the biosynthesis mechanism of fungal secondary metabolites, which is of great significance to food safety and industry.
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