title: Progesterone biotransformation by plant cell suspension cultures.
abstract: Progesterone was converted to 5alpha-pregnane-3alpha-ol-20-one, delta4-pregnene-20alpha-ol-3-one, delta4-pregnene-14alpha-ol-3,20-dione, delta4-pregnene-7beta,14alpha-diol-3,20-dione, and delta4-pregnene-6beta,11alpha-diol-3,20-dione by cell cultures of Lycopersicon esculentum. Cell cultures of Capsicum frutescens (green) metabolized progesterone to delta4-pregnene-20alpha-ol-3-one in very high yield, and Vinca rosea yielded delta4-pregnene-20beta-ol-3-one and delta4-pregnene-14alpha-ol-3,20-dione. A stereospecific reduction of the keto groups and a double bond and stereospecific introduction of hydroxyl groups at the 6, 11, and 14 positions have been observed. The mono- and dihydroxylated progesterones have not previously been reported as metabolic products of progesterone by plant cell systems and represent de novo hydroxylation of a nonglycosylated steroid.
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006900:Hydroxylation; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D011283:Pregnenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011283:Pregnenes; D011374:Progesterone