CURRENT TRENDS IN MICROBIAL STEROID BIOTRANSFORMATION

Microbial transformations of various steroids are reviewed. Developmen tal studies on immobilization of microbial cells, techniques for selec tive transformation and better yields of desired metabolites are highl ighted. The present position of microbial biotechnology in the steroid drug industry and the future prospects are discussed. Various steroid substrates, their metabolites and the micro-organisms used for the tr ansformations are compiled covering the literature for the period late 1987-mid 1992.