Exchange of tritium from randomly tritiated taurocholate by microbial bile salt oxidoreductases.

Tritium distribution on randomly labelled taurocholate (TC) was estimated at 28%, 4%, 1% and less than 0.5% on the hydrogens opposite the 3alpha-, 7alpha- and 12alpha-OH groups and taurine moiety respectively. Anomalously, C. perfringens 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3alpha-HSDH) catalyzed tritium loss of 36% on formation of 7alpha-, 12alpha-dihydroxy-3-keto-5beta-cholanoate, implying additional losses of tritium at other sites by this enzyme.