Structure-function analysis for the hydroxylation of Δ4 C21-steroids by the myxobacterial CYP260B1.

Myxobacterial CYP260B1 from Sorangium cellulosum was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The in vitro conversion of a small focused substrate library comprised of Δ4 C21-steroids and steroidal drugs using surrogate bovine redox partners shows that CYP260B1 is a novel steroid hydroxylase. CYP260B1 performs the regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of the glucocorticoid cortodoxone (RSS) to produce 6β-OH-RSS. The substrate-free crystal structure of CYP260B1 (PDB 5HIW) was resolved. Docking of the tested ligands into the crystal structure suggested that the C17 hydroxy moiety and the presence of either a keto or a hydroxy group at C11 determine the selectivity of hydroxylation.