Abstract
The microbiological reduction of the 20-carbonyl group of steroids has been investigated. Candida pulcherrima IFO 0964 and Sporotrichum gougeroti IFO 5982 converted the following substrates into the corresponding 20β-hydroxy derivatives (yields of the products are indicated in parentheses) Reichstein's Compound S (60-70%) and 17α, 21-dihydroxypregna-1, 4-diene-3, 20-dione (40-80%). Rhodotorula glutinis IFO 0395 converted the following substrates into the corresponding 20α-hydroxy derivatives: Reichstein's Compound S (65%), 17α, 21-dihydroxypregna-1, 4-diene-3, 20-dione (80%), 11β, 17α-dihydyoxypregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione (45%) and 17α, 19, 21-trihydroxypregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione (10%).
