Hunter AC, Watts KR, Dedi C, Dodd HT. An unusual ring--a opening and other reactions in steroid transformation by the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2009;
116:171-7. [PMID:
19482085 DOI:
10.1016/j.jsbmb.2009.05.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2008] [Revised: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A series of steroids (progesterone, testosterone acetate, 17beta-acetoxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one, testosterone and androst-4-en-3,17-dione) have been incubated with the thermophilic ascomycete Myceliophthora thermophila CBS 117.65. A wide range of biocatalytic activity was observed with modification at all four rings of the steroid nucleus and the C-17beta side-chain. This is the first thermophilic fungus to demonstrate the side-chain cleavage of progesterone. A unique fungal transformation was observed following incubation of the saturated steroid 17beta-acetoxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one resulting in 4-hydroxy-3,4-seco-pregn-20-one-3-oic acid which was the product generated following the opening of an A-homo steroid, presumably by lactonohydrolase activity. Hydroxylation predominated at axial protons of the steroids containing 3-one-4-ene ring-functionality. This organism also demonstrated reversible acetylation and oxidation of the 17beta-alcohol of testosterone. All steroidal metabolites were isolated by column chromatography and were identified by (1)H, (13)C NMR, DEPT analysis and other spectroscopic data. The range of steroidal modification achieved with this fungus indicates that these organisms may be a rich source of novel steroid biocatalysis which deserve greater investigation in the future.
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