Transformations of steroids by Beauveria bassiana

Abstract

The course of transformations of testosterone and its derivatives, including compounds with an additional C1,C2 double bond and/or a 17α-methyl group, a 17β-acetyl group or without a 19-methyl group, by a Beauveria bassiana culture was investigated. The fungi promoted hydroxylation of these compounds at position 11α, oxidation of the 17β-hydroxyl group, reduction of the C1,C2 or C4,C5 double bonds and degradation of the progesterone side-chain, leading to testosterone. The structure of 4-ene-3-oxo-steroids had no influence on regio- and stereochemistry of hydroxylation. In a similar manner, dehydroepiandrosterone was hydroxylated by Beauveria bassiana at position 11α, however, a small amount of 7α-hydroxylation product was also formed. © 2005 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.