SYNTHESIS OF 9α-HYDROXYSTEROIDS BY A RHODOCOCCUS SP.

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0039-128X(89)90002-0

9α-Hydroxylation of Δ⁵-3β-hydroxysteroids (of androstane, pregnane, 24-nor- and 21,24-bisnorcholane groups) was carried out by a Rhodococcus sp., isolated from a petroleum-containing soil sample.A large number of the investigated steroids was transformed into 9α-hydroxy-Δ⁴-3-ketones in satisfactory yields (50 - 90percent) at high initial concentrations of the substrates (0.5 - 5.0 g/L).The influence of some structural features of the steroid molecule on the progress and effectiveness of the microbial transformation was also shown.