MICROBIOLOGICAL HYDROXYLATION OF STEROIDS XII OXIDATION OF PROGESTERONE AND REICHSTEIN'S COMPOUND S BY GENUS PSEUDOMONAS AND OTHERS

Abstract

1. Comparative tests on oxidative ability of bacteria against steroids were carried out and attempts were also made to select useful strains.
2. The strains tested were 162 strains of Pseudomonas and 24 strains of Micrococcus, either newly isolated or preserved as standard strains in this Laboratory. These strains were tested for their ability to oxidize progesterone and Reichstein's Compound S, and some useful strains were found in Ps. ovalis, Ps. inertia, Ps. Nitroreductans, and Ps. rathonis.
3. Taxonomical position of the Pseudomonas strains having the ability to oxidize steroids was examined earlier by one of the present author (IIZUKA). The three types of classification proposed by IIZUKA, the Fluorescent, Achromogenic, and Chromogenic types, was found to have relationship to the ability of oxidizing steroids.