MICROBIAL HYDROXYLATION OF ACETYLAMINOSTEROIDS

An investigation of the microbial biotransformation of a range of 3 be ta-, 17 beta-, and 20-acetylamino C-18 to C-21 steroids by microorgani sms known to hydroxylate conventional steroids has been undertaken, us ing Aspergillus ochraceus, Bacillus megaterium, Curvularia lunata, and Rhizopus arrhizus. A. ochraceus and B. megaterium gave products of 11 alpha- and 15 beta-hydroxylation, respectively. In the case of C. lun ata, the products were predominantly those of this organism's normal C -11 beta- and C-14 alpha-hydroxylating pathways, but in one instance, 3 beta-acetylamino-7 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-17-one, appeared to result from direction of the site of hydroxylation by the substitut ion pattern of the substrate. The products from R. arrhizus generally corresponded to those previously obtained from normal steroids of simi lar skeleton, with 6 beta- and 11 alpha-hydroxylation predominating, b ut again the sites of hydroxylation and the range of hydroxylated prod ucts were found to depend on the substitution pattern of the substrate . (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.