title: Steroid transformation by mutants of Mycobacterium sp. with altered response to antibiotics.
abstract: Mycobacterium sp. NRRLB3683 which is capable to convert beta-sitosterol to 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) was treated with methyl methane sulfonate and two strains with altered sensitivity to various antibiotics were obtained. One of the strain was steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative and the other positive. Efficiency of utilization of sterols followed the order beta-sitosterol > cholesterol > soluble cholesterol. The steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative strain was capable of producing 17KS (AD) from beta-sitosterol and converting AD to testosterone and ADD to AD suggesting the negative role of 1(2)-dehydrogenase in sterol side chain cleavage and decrease in hydrogenase activity by mutation. But this enzyme can perform the reverse reaction under aerobic condition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Regional Research Laboratory, Assam, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barthakur
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bera
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000735:Androstenedione / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000378:metabolism*; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012855:Sitosterols; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D000735:Androstenedione; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D010088:Oxidoreductases