MICROBIOLOGICAL HYDROXYLATION OF STEROIDS
II. MICROBIOLOGICAL HYDROXYLATION OF PROGESTERONE BY ASPERGILLUS
1958 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 67-78
Details
1958 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 67-78
1. Comparative experiments were carried out in order for the purpose of examining the ability of 473 strains of Aspergillus fungi to form 11α- hydroxy- and 6β, 11α-dihydroxyprogesterone from progesterone. It was thereby found that the strains of black Aspergillus and their mutants had stronger oxygenation ability.
2. In order to increase the rate of oxygenation, examinations were made carried out on various cultural conditions and optimal conditions were selected.
3. Mass culture indicated that the fungi could be classified into strains producing only 11α-hydroxyprogesterone (A. usamii mut. shirousamii IAM B-407, A. awamori IAM K-0625) and strains that produced both 11α-hydroxy- and 6β, 11α-dihydroxyprogesterones (A. saitoi IAM R-1216, A. usamii U.V. mutant IAM 59-1). However, none of these fungi seemed to produce any other products.
4. Tank culture of A. saitoi IAM R-1216 was found to effect the complete oxygenation of the substrate in within 48 hours.
