Biotransformations of steroid compounds by Chaetomium sp. KCH 6651.

Biotransformations of steroid compounds: androstenedione, testosterone, progesterone, pregnenolone and DHEA using Chaetomium sp. 1 KCH 6651 strain as a biocatalyst were investigated. The microorganism proved capable of selective hydroxylation of the steroid substrates. Androstenedione was converted to 14alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (in over 75% yield) and 6beta-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (in low yield), while testosterone underwent regioselective hydroxylation at 6beta position. Progesterone was transformed to a single product-6beta,14alpha-dihydroxypregnan-4-en-3,20-dione in high yield, whereas biotransformation of DHEA resulted in the formation of 7alpha-hydroxy derivative, which was subsequently converted to 7alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione.