MICROBIOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION OF PROGESTERONE BY SOME ZOOSPORIC FUNGI

Twelve isolates of zoosporic fungi belonging to four species (three is olates each) of the genus Saprolegnia were tested for progesterone bio transformation. The three isolates tested of each of S. hypogyna and S . parasitica have the capacity to perform oxidative splitting of the s ide chain of progesterone with the formation of Delta(4) androstene-3, 17 dione, testosterone and testololactone. All the isolates tested of S. diclina and S. furcata failed to transform progesterone molecule in to another steroid derivative. The chromatographic resolution of the m ixture products obtained when S. hypogyna (isolate No. 1008-2) had act ed on one gram progesterone revealed the presence of 15% unchanged pro gesterone, 25% Delta(4)-androstene-3,17-dione, 25% testosterone and 35 % testololactone.