CONTROL WITH ORGANIC-SOLVENTS OF EFFICIENCY OF PERSOLVENT CHOLESTEROLFERMENTATION BY PSEUDOMONAS SP STRAIN ST-200

Pseudomonas sp. strain ST-200 oxidizes cholesterol dissolved in an org anic solvent overlying the medium. Major conversion products are chole st-4-en-3-one (C4EO), 6 beta-hydroxcholest-4-en-3-one (HCEO), and chol est-4-ene-3,6-dione (CEDO). Productivity of each conversion product wa s altered by changing organic solvents used to dissolve the cholestero l. Generally, HCEO was predominant among the products. HCEO was produc ed even by cells grown without cholesterol and then killed with harmfu l organic solvents, The yield of the most oxidized product, CEDO, tvas improved when the cells; were grown in the presence of cholesterol di ssolved in a less toxic solvent, cyclooctane.