Transcription factor that regulates the expression of the he gene cluster that mediates the biosynthesis of lovastatin (also known as mevinolin, mevacor or monacolin K), a hypolipidemic inhibitor of (3S)-hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR). Highly expressed during the first day of culture on solid medium; thereafter levels decrease but remain high. Expressed at much lower levels in liquid culture. Lovastatin acts as a hypolipidemic agent that works as inhibitor of (3S)-hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) which reduces HMG-CoA to mevalonate and is the key step in cholesterol biosynthesis (PubMed:6933445). Lovastatin, simvastatin and related compounds are widely used to treat hypercholesteremia and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (PubMed:6933445). Furthermore, statins such as lovastatin were found to be anticancer agents (PubMed:29236027, PubMed:29932104).