Karl J. Sax

MICROBIAL FORMATION AND HYDROLYSIS OF TESTOLOLACTONE.

Abstract Testolic acid has been isolated and identified as the major final product from the fermentation of androstenedione with Cephalosporium acremonium . The occurrence of testolic acid in fermentations with other microorganisms reported to produce testololactone is noted. Testolic acid is produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of testololactone and is probably not a precursor in the microbiological formation of testololactone.

Microbiological formation of 1α,2α-dihydroxysteroids

Abstract Selected steroids give rise to 1α,2α-dihydroxylated products when fermented with nocardia corallina (ATCC 999). Preparation of the 1α,2α-dihydroxy derivatives of 17α-ethynyl-17β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (I), 9α-fluoro-11β,17β-dihydroxy-17α-methylandrost-4-en-3-one (VI), and 11β,21-dihydroxy-16α,17α-isopropylidenedioxypregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (XII) is described. Induction of the required enzymes by prior exposure of N. corallina to androstenedione was necessary to obtain the 1α,2α-dihydroxy products from I and XII.