Biotransformation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione by green cell suspension of Marchantia polymorpha: stereoselective reduction at carbon 17.

The biotransformation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione by a green cell suspension of Marchantia polymorpha was studied. It was found that the cultured cells stereoselectively reduce the carbonyl group of 4-androstene-3,17-dione from the re-face at C-17 to form testosterone as the primary metabolite.