SIDE CHAIN DEGRADATION AND SOME BIOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATIONS OF PROGESTERONE BY FUNGI

Abstract

A total of two hundred isolates belonging to 43 species and two species varieties representing eight genera of filamentous fungi were tested during this investigation for respective abilities to transform steroids. Progesterone one of the most easily available steroid was used as substrate of the enzymic transformation performed by these fungal isolates. The results could be summarized as the following. 1- The first transformation group tested during this investigation include 48 isolates of Aspergillus belonging to eight species and one species variety transformed progesterone to: a- Members ofA. versicolor laked enzyme(s) system capable to transform progesterone to another steroid product. b- Isolates ofA. egyptiacus had the capability to transform progesterone into 11 a.-hydroxyprogesterone. c- Members tested of A. niger transformed progesterone to four mono• hydroxylated products (1lo-, 119-, 17a- or 21-hydroxy• progesterone) in addition to one trihydroxylated product (epicortisol). d- All the isolates of A. flavus group belonging to five species and one species variety exhibited- an oxidative splitting of the side-chain of progesterone in position CI7 with the formation of ±-androstene• 3,17-dione, testosterone and testololactone. Only isolates of A. flavus, in addition to the ability to degrade progesterone side-chain possesses enzyme(s) system catalysing the formation of mono-, di• and trihydroxy derivatives of progesterone. 2- Members of the second group (Circinella muscae) yield a mixture of mono- and dihydroxyprogesterone derivatives.