Microbial transformations of testosterone to 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone by two species of Penicillium: P-chrysogenum and P-crustosum

Two species of Penicillium-P. chrysogenum and P. crustosum-were cultured in presence of [H-3]testosterone as a substrate. Both species were shown to r educe the 4,5-double bond in testosterone to give dihydrotestosterone (DHT) . The steroids produced were 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone, DHT, 3 proportion al to-hydroxy-5 beta-androstan-17-one, 3 proportional to-hydroy-5 proportio nal to-androstan-17-one, 4-androstene-3,17-dione, and 5 proportional to-and rostane-3,17-dione. These products implicate the presence of the 5 alpha-re ductase, with maximal activity at pH 6 and 8, in both species of Penicilliu m. The presence of DHT in the growth medium and not in the mycelium suggest s that DHT is excreted into the medium. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.