Bioconversion of 3 beta-acetoxypregna-5,16-diene-20-one to androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione by mixed bacterial culture.
OBJECTIVE
To isolate a bacterium capable of degrading 3 beta-acetoxypregna-5,16-diene-20-one (16-DPA) to androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and to decipher the biodegradation pathway.


RESULTS
Isolation on mineral salt agar containing 16-DPA as sole carbon source yielded two bacteria identified as Pseudomonas diminuta and Comamonas acidovorons. These bacteria failed to degrade 16-DPA individually in pure cultures but converted 16-DPA to ADD in a mixed culture. The intermediates accumulated during the bioconversion were identified as pregna-4,16-diene-3,20-dione and pregna-1,4,16-triene-3,20-dione.


CONCLUSIONS
The degradation pattern of 16-DPA by mixed bacterial culture revealed the reaction sequence as (i) cleavage of C-3 acetyl function, (ii) dehydrogenation at C-1 and C-2 positions and (iii) cleavage of C-17 side-chain.


CONCLUSIONS
The present work opens a new approach towards the production of a female sex hormone precursor and elucidates the biodegradation pathway of 16-DPA by mixed bacterial culture.
Patil
S
S
School of Life Sciences, Devi Ahilya University, Vigyan Bhawan, Khandwa Road Campus, Indore, India. microb@mantraonline.com
Shukla
A
A
Shinde
K
K
Banerjee
T
T
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D003470:Culture Media; D020605:Delftia acidovorans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000378:metabolism; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000737:chemistry; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism
C469666:3-acetoxypregna-5,16-diene-20-one; D000730:Androstadienes; D003470:Culture Media; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D011282:Pregnenediones; D013256:Steroids; C006573:1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione