甾体微生物转化C11β-羟基化的研究进展

C11β-羟基化是甾体微生物转化中难以实现的一步反应。对甾体C11β-羟基化的机理及部分生理生化问题进行了讨论,对蓝色犁头霉和新月弯孢霉催化转化甾体C11β-羟基化的应用研究特点及其催化转化反应产物氢化可的松的工业生产现状及相关问题进行了评述,并对此技术开发前景进行了预测。     

黑曲霉催化雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮16β-羟基化

为进一步确定黑曲霉菌株TCCC41650的生物转化能力,以雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮(Androstenedione)为底物,利用黑曲霉菌株TCCC41650进行催化,产物经纯化、重结晶后,通过单晶衍射鉴定为16β-羟基雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮。转化条件为:培养液pH 6.0,乙醇添加量为2%,投料浓度为1‰时,72 h转化率为85.8%。目前甾体研究领域对于C16β-羟基化的微生物转化未见报道,研究结果为C16β-羟基甾体药物的研发奠定了基础。     

总状毛霉对4-烯-3-酮甾体的生物转化研究

从土样中筛选到一株能转化甾体的菌株,经形态观察,鉴定为总状毛霉(Mucor racemosus)。首次利用该菌株对4-烯-3-酮类甾体衍生物进行生物转化,目的是合成具有潜在活性的羟基类4-烯-3-酮衍生物。转化条件为27℃,220r/min振荡培养4d。转化产物经乙酸乙酯萃取,用硅胶柱层析法分离,通过红外、质谱和核磁分析确定了甾体转化产物的化学结构。黄体酮生物转化得到的产物是14α-羟基-4-孕甾烯-3,20-二酮和7α,14α-二羟基-4-孕甾烯-3,20-二酮;4-雄烯二酮的转化产物是14α-羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮1、4α,17β-二羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3-酮和6α,17β-二羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3-酮。研究结果表明总状毛霉具有转化甾体的能力,对4-烯-3-酮类甾体进行生物转化的主要产物是14α-羟基甾体衍生物。     

基于微生物法甾体羟基化反应

甾体化合物又称类固醇,是重要的药物活性成分和药物合成中间体,因其具有环戊烷多氢菲的基本骨架,反应类型丰富,其中羟基化反应因产品具有广阔的市场应用前景而受到广泛关注。羟基化反应有化学法和生物法两种,生物法具有区域和立体专一性、对映体专一性等特点而成为目前主要的生产方法。首先从反应原理、类型及机制3个方面介绍了甾体微生物羟基化过程;其次,基于文献及自身研究工作,从甾体羟基化反应的发酵条件、底物溶解性、跨膜运输及反应器内流体力学特性4个角度对羟基化过程的影响进行了综述;最后,基于甾体羟基化反应特性及当前研究进展,对该反应过程后续研究提出展望,旨在为后期甾体羟基化反应的相关研究提供一定参考依据。     

新月弯孢霉AS 3.4381对新型甾体底物C11β-羟基化

应用本实验室保藏的新月弯孢霉Curvularia lunataAS 3.4381对新型甾体化合物(Ⅰ)(16α,17β-二甲基-17-丙酰基雄甾-1,4-二烯-3-酮)作为底物进行生物转化C11β-羟基化反应的研究。实验研究结果表明,采用Ⅱ级发酵的工艺,收获新月弯孢霉菌丝体作为生物催化剂,在磷酸缓冲液介质体系中,对化合物Ⅰ的C11位实现β羟基化,生成皮质激素药物。测试数据TLC,MS,IR及1H NMR证明了该产物的化学结构,表明生物转化产物为C11β-羟基-16α,17β-二甲基-17-丙酰基雄甾-1,4-二烯-3-酮。     

Penicillium raistrickii 15α羟基化左旋乙基甾烯双酮工艺研究

通过生物转化技术对甾体化合物左旋乙基甾烯双酮进行15α位羟基化,合成了重要的药物中间体15α-羟基左旋乙基甾烯双酮,对生物转化工艺进行了优化。重点对底物的助溶剂进行了筛选,同时对培养基成分,接种量,初始pH,通气量,投料浓度,投料时间,转化时间等转化条件进行了优化。结果表明:在摇瓶发酵中,Penicilliumraistrickii对甾体化合物左旋乙基甾烯双酮生物转化,产物15α-羟基左旋乙基甾烯双酮转化率达到60%,在发酵罐放大试验中,转化率达到50%以上。具有工业生产前景。     

Gibberella intermedia C2转化4-雄甾烯-3、17-二酮的研究

甾体化合物具有独特的生理活性,已被广泛应用于抗炎、利尿、免疫、避孕及抗癌等领域。近些年,生物催化与转化在甾体药物中间体合成中发挥的作用日益强大。为了能够合成一些具有潜在价值的新型甾体化合物,以实验室菌种库中保藏的一株Gibberella intermedia C2为研究对象,选取了雄甾烷中一种有广泛用途的化合物4-雄甾烯-3、17-二酮(简称雄烯二酮,AD)为底物进行生物转化。转化液经提取分离,最终获得2个转化产物,经结构鉴定分别为15α-OH-AD和11α,15α-diOH-AD。转化机制研究发现,G.intermedia C2先将底物的15位羟基化生成15α-OHAD,再将其11位羟基化形成双羟基产物。赤霉菌能够特异性、有序地完成对AD的两步羟化反应。此外,通过工艺优化,确定了羟化4AD反应的最适工艺参数如下:发酵培养基的初始pH 6.5,装液量30ml/250ml,底物浓度6.0g/L,转化温度28℃,摇床转速220r/min,转化周期为84h。此时,底物AD的摩尔转化率达到81.5%。     

Penicillium raistrickii15α羟基化左旋乙基甾烯双酮工艺研究*

通过生物转化技术对甾体化合物左旋乙基甾烯双酮进行15α位羟基化,合成了重要的药物中间体15α-羟基左旋乙基甾烯双酮,对生物转化工艺进行了优化。重点对底物的助溶剂进行了筛选,同时对培养基成分,接种量,初始pH,通气量,投料浓度,投料时间,转化时间等转化条件进行了优化。结果表明:在摇瓶发酵中,Penicilliumraistrickii对甾体化合物左旋乙基甾烯双酮生物转化,产物15α-羟基左旋乙基甾烯双酮转化率达到60%,在发酵罐放大试验中,转化率达到50%以上。具有工业生产前景。     

粉红单端孢Trichothecium roseum对雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮的生物转化

雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮（4AD）是甾体化合物合成过程中的关键中间体,其羟化产物通常具有良好的药理活性或作为工业生产甾体药物的重要中间体。利用粉红单端孢Trichothecium roseum对4AD进行生物转化,从其发酵提取物中共分离鉴定了3个4AD羟基化产物：6β-羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮（6β-OH-4AD,1）,14α-羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮（14α-OH-4AD,2）,6β,14α-双羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮（6β,14α-di-OH-4AD,3）,表明T. roseum对4AD的C-6β位和C-14α位具有较强的羟化能力,其中14α-OH-4AD(2)可作为合成强心甾类化合物毛地黄毒素的重要中间体,6β,14α-di-OH-4AD(3)可作为合成具有抗肿瘤活性的14α-羟基-雄甾-4-烯-3,6,17-三酮的重要中间体。提供了1株能够高效制备活性甾醇中间体14α-OH-4AD和6β,14α-di-OH-4AD的菌株,同时可为研究其他甾醇药物奠定基础。     

3-甾酮-9α-羟基化酶基因的表达及其催化合成9α-羟基雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮

研究应用于甾体9α-羟基化的高效催化剂和催化体系是实现甾体药物9α位羟基高效合成的关键。本文中,笔者对来源于分支杆菌(Mycobacterium tuberculosis) H37Rv和红平红球菌(Rhodococcus erythropolis) SQ1的3-甾酮-9α-羟基化酶基因(reksh A,mtksh A)进行优化,并对2个基因的催化活性进行检测。通过构建工程表达菌株,以雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮(AD)为底物,对制备9α-羟基雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮(9α-OH-AD)的催化反应进行了探索。结果表明:基因序列优化显著提升了Re Ksh A和MtKshA蛋白的可溶性表达,其中Re Ksh A具有较好的雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮9α位羟基化活性。用TB培养基培养Re Ksh A的工程表达菌株BL21(DE3)-p ET28a-reksh A-yh,在30℃、500μmol/L底物浓度、0. 8%(体积分数)乙醇为助溶剂、0. 1 mmol/L IPTG诱导浓度、底物与诱导剂同时加入到工程菌液中的条件下,9α-OH-AD得率达到97. 09%。     

Aromatase-independent testosterone conversion into estrogenic steroids is inhibited by a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor

Estrogens are generated mainly by the action of aromatase, which converts testosterone to estradiol and androstenedione to estrone. However, in addition to estradiol and estrone, a variety of other steroids, whose synthesis is not dependent on aromatase, can stimulate the estrogen receptor. Here we show that testosterone is converted into such estrogenic steroids by aromatase-negative HeLa cells. This aromatase-independent generation of estrogenic steroids is seen in aromatase-positive MCF-7 cells as well. In both cell lines, the synthesis of estrogenic steroids was blocked by inhibition of testosterone conversion into dihydrotestosterone using a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride, suggesting that they are generated downstream of dihydrotestosterone. This finding raises the possibility that the combination of a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor and an aromatase inhibitor may reduce estrogenic steroids in vivo more completely than an aromatase inhibitor alone.     

Studies on the biosynthesis in vivo and excretion of 16-unsaturated C19 steroids in the boar

1. In one experiment [7alpha-(3)H]pregnenolone was infused continuously for 12min into the left spermatic artery of a sexually mature boar and blood was collected during this period by continuous drainage from the spermatic vein. After infusion, the testis was removed and immediately cooled to -196 degrees C. 2. From both the testicular tissue and the spermatic venous plasma, (3)H-labelled 16-unsaturated C(19) steroids were isolated and characterized and their radiochemical purity was established. 5alpha-Androst-16-en-3alpha- and 3beta-ol occurred mainly as sulphate conjugates and to a lesser extent as free steroids. Only traces of these alcohols occurred as glucosiduronate conjugates. 5alpha-Androst-16-en-3-one was found in the free (ether-extractable) fraction. 3. The isotope concentration of each of the (3)H-labelled 16-unsaturated C(19) steroids in testicular tissue was different from that in spermatic venous plasma. 4. The ratios of tritiated 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha- and 3beta-ol (free steroids) to their respective sulphate conjugates in the testicular tissue were less than the ratios of the same compounds in the spermatic venous plasma. The possibility that the sulphates are partially hydrolysed by testicular sulphatases before secretion is discussed. 5. In a second experiment, a continuous close-arterial infusion of [7alpha-(3)H]pregnenolone into the left testis was performed over a 200min period and all the urine that accumulated during the infusion was collected for analysis. 6. No (3)H-labelled 16-unsaturated C(19) steroids were detected in the urine as free steroids. Only a trace of 5alpha-androst-16-en-3alpha-ol was detected conjugated as glucosiduronate, whereas the corresponding 3beta-alcohol occurred mainly as glucosiduronate and to a lesser extent as sulphate. 7. The absence of 5alpha-androst-16-en-3beta-ol glucosiduronate in the spermatic venous blood and its presence in considerable amount in the urine may be attributed to hepatic glucuronyl transferase activity.     

Specific interactions of steroids, arylhydrocarbons and flavonoids with progesterone receptors from the cytosol of the fungus Rhizopus nigricans

Rhizopus nigricans (R. nigricans) transforms fungitoxic progesterone into the less toxic 11-hydroxyprogesterone which is then able to exit the mycelia into the surrounding water. Hydroxylation of progesterone is an inducible process in which cytosolic progesterone receptors could be involved. In the present study, we characterised receptors with respect to ligand specificity and to their involvement in progesterone induction of hydroxylase. EC₅₀ values of different ligands (steroids, xenobiotic arylhydrocarbons and natural flavonoids) were determined by competition studies using 40 nM (³H)progesterone. C21 and C19 3-oxo-4-ene steroids were good competitors (EC₅₀ of progesterone 2.3 ± 0.1 × 10⁻⁷ M, EC₅₀ of androsten-3,17-dione 24 ± 2 × 10⁻⁷ M). The presence of hydroxyl groups in steroids significantly decreased the affinity for receptors. The arylhydrocarbons -naphthoflavone and ketoconazole exhibited EC₅₀ values of 0.3 ± 0.01 × 10⁻⁷ M and 27 ± 5 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively, whereas β-naphthoflavone and benzo(a)pyrene were not able to displace labelled progesterone completely. The competition curves obtained by natural flavonoids also did not reach the bottom level of non-labelled progesterone, indicating the interaction at some allosteric binding site(s) of progesterone receptors. All ligands were examined for their involvement in progesterone-hydroxylase induction. Steroid agonists induced the enzyme in a dose-dependent manner in accordance with their affinity for receptors, whereas arylhydrocarbons and natural flavonoids did not induce the enzyme. The agonistic action of steroids, together with the antagonistic action of -naphthoflavone, strongly suggests the involvement of progesterone receptors in progesterone signalling resulting in the induction of progesterone-hydroxylase.     

CYP7B1-mediated metabolism of 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-Adiol): A novel pathway for potential regulation of the cellular levels of androgens and neurosteroids

The current study presents data indicating that 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (3α-Adiol) undergoes a previously unknown metabolism into hydroxymetabolites, catalyzed by CYP7B1. 3α-Adiol is an androgenic steroid which serves as a source for the potent androgen dihydrotestosterone and also can modulate gamma-amino butyric acid A (GABA_A) receptor function in the brain. The steroid hydroxylase CYP7B1 is known to metabolize cholesterol derivatives, sex hormone precursors and certain estrogens, but has previously not been thought to act on androgens or 3α-hydroxylated steroids. 3α-Adiol was found to undergo NADPH-dependent metabolism into 6- and 7-hydroxymetabolites in incubations with porcine microsomes and human kidney-derived HEK293 cells, which are high in CYP7B1 content. This metabolism was suppressed by addition of steroids known to be metabolized by CYP7B1. In addition, 3α-Adiol significantly suppressed CYP7B1-mediated catalytic reactions, in a way as would be expected for substrates that compete for the same enzyme. Recombinant expression of human CYP7B1 in HEK293 cells significantly increased the rate of 3α-Adiol hydroxylation. Furthermore, the observed hydroxylase activity towards 3α-Adiol was very low or undetectable in livers of Cyp7b1(?/?) knockout mice. The present results indicate that CYP7B1-mediated catalysis may play a role for control of the cellular levels of androgens, not only of estrogens. These findings suggest a previously unknown mechanism for metabolic elimination of 3α-Adiol which may impact intracellular levels of dihydrotestosterone and GABA_A-modulating steroids.     

Simultaneous determination of dehydroepiandrosterone and its 7-oxygenated metabolites in human serum by high-resolution gas chromatography--mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and specific method has been developed for the simultaneous measurement of free (unconjugated) or sulfate-conjugated forms of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA (7alpha-OH-DHEA), 7beta-hydroxy-DHEA (7beta-OH-DHEA), and 7-oxo-DHEA (7-oxo-DHEA) in human serum. This method is based upon a stable isotope-dilution technique by gas chromatography-selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry. Free steroids were extracted from serum with an organic solvent and the sulfate-conjugated steroids remained in aqueous phase. Free steroids were purified by solid-phase extraction, while sulfate-conjugated steroids were hydrolyzed by sulfatase and deconjugated steroids were purified by solid-phase extractions. The extracts were treated with O-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride and were subsequently dimethylisopropylsilylated. The resulting methyloxime-dimethylisopropylsilyl (MO-DMIPS) ether derivatives were quantified by gas chromatography-selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry in a high-resolution mode. The detection limits of MO-DMIPS ether derivatives of DHEA, 7alpha-OH-DHEA, 7beta-OH-DHEA and 7-oxo-DHEA were 1.0, 0.5, 0.5 and 2.0pg, respectively. Coefficients of variation between samples ranged from 10.6 to 22.9% for free 7-oxygenated DHEA to less than 10% for DHEA and sulfate-conjugated 7-oxygenated DHEA. The concentrations of these steroids were measured in 18 sera samples from healthy volunteers (9 males and 9 females; aged 23-78 years). Free DHEA, 7alpha-OH-DHEA, 7beta-OH-DHEA and 7-oxo-DHEA levels ranged between 0.21-3.55, 0.001-0.194, 0.003-0.481, and 0.000-0.077ng/ml, respectively, and the sulfate-conjugated steroid levels of these metabolites ranged between 253-4681, 0.082-3.001, 0.008-0.903, and 0.107-0.803ng/ml, respectively. The free DHEA-related steroid concentrations were much lower than those previously measured by RIA and low-resolution GC-MS. The present method made it possible to determine simultaneously serum DHEA-related steroid levels with sufficient sensitivity and accuracy.     

Midgestational maternal urine steroid markers of fetal Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome (7-dehydrocholesterol 7-reductase deficiency).

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a malformation syndrome associated with 7-dehydrocholesterol (7DHC) 7-reductase deficiency. Although SLOS can be detected in an affected fetus before midpregnancy by measurement of 7DHC levels in amniotic fluid or chorionic villus cells, a noninvasive, more routine method is needed. Accordingly, this study was instigated to search for specific steroids in maternal urine in an affected pregnancy that reflect the 7-reductase deficiency of the fetus, ie, steroids retaining 7,8-unsaturation. Steroids were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after urinary extraction, conjugate separation, and derivatization. Most steroids in maternal urine from a patient carrying a SLOS fetus were identified as progesterone metabolites, and these were entirely conventional, showing no evidence of additional unsaturation. Unsaturated homologues of the cortisol metabolites were also not detected. However, unsaturated homologues of pregnane-3,16,20-triols and pregnane-3,17,20-triol were found. Most likely, these are 7,8-unsaturated homologues, but 8,9-unsaturation is also possible because of the known activity of delta7-delta8-isomerase on 7DHC, which results in 8DHC being a prominent sterol in SLOS. Among these novel human steroids, the following were provisionally characterized: 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-triol, 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,16alpha,20alpha-triol, and 5alpha-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3,16alpha,20alpha-triol. Confirmation of the position of unsaturation will require steroid synthesis. These novel steroids are not present in normal pregnancy urine and, therefore, are valuable for prenatal diagnosis of SLOS. In addition, separate studies have shown that 5beta-pregn-7(or 8)-ene-3alpha,17alpha,20alpha-triol is present in urine of children and adults with SLOS, and so is a useful analyte for confirmation of the disorder throughout life.     

The 7alpha-hydroxysteroids produced in human tonsils enhance the immune response to tetanus toxoid and Bordetella pertussis antigens

Human tonsils were assessed for their ability to 7alpha-hydroxylate pregnenolone (PREG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and 3-epiandrosterone (EPIA). Both 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA and 7alpha-hydroxy-EPIA were produced by homogenates of either whole tonsils or of lymphocyte-depleted tonsil fractions. In contrast, isolated lymphocytes were found to be unable to carry out 7alpha-hydroxylation. When co-cultures of tonsil-derived T and B lymphocytes were set up under stimulatory conditions, IgGs were released in the supernatants and could be quantitated, and immunomodulating properties of different steroids were monitored. When PREG was added to a mixture of tonsil-derived B and T lymphocytes, a decrease of non-specific and specific IgG was observed. An increase in specific anti-tetanus toxoid and anti-Bordetella pertussis antigen IgGs was obtained with either 1 microM 7alpha-hydroxy-DHEA or 1 microM 7alpha-hydroxy-EPIA. In contrast, DHEA and EPIA were unable to trigger such an effect. When cultures of isolated tonsillar B cells were used, none of the steroids tested showed significant effects on specific IgG productions. These data led to the conclusion that human tonsillar cells transform DHEA and EPIA, but not PREG, into 7alpha-hydroxylated metabolites. These metabolites could act on target tonsillar T lymphocytes which in turn act upon B lymphocytes for increasing specific IgG production.     

Studies directed towards a mechanistic evaluation of inactivation of aromatase by the suicide substrates androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-diones and its 6-ene derivatives aromatase inactivation by the 19-substituted derivatives and their enzymic aromatization

To gain insight into the mechanistic features for aromatase inactivation by the typical suicide substrates, androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD, 1) and its 6-ene derivative 2, we synthesized 19-substituted (methyl and halogeno) ADD and 1,4,6-triene derivatives 8 and 10 along with 4,6-diene derivatives 9 and tested for their ability to inhibit aromatase in human placental microsomes as well as their ability to serve as a substrate for the enzyme. 19-Methyl-substituted steroids were the most powerful competitive inhibitors of aromatase (K_i: 8.2–40 nM) in each series. Among the 19-substituted inhibitors examined, 19-chloro-ADD and its 6-ene derivatives (7b and 9b) inactivated aromatase in a time-dependent manner in the presence of NADPH in air while the other ones did not. The time-dependent inactivation was blocked by the substrate AD and required NADPH. Only the time-dependent inactivators 7b and 9b in series of 1,4-diene and 1,4,6-triene steroids as well as all of 4,6-diene steroids 9, except for the methyl compound 9a, served as a substrate for aromatase to yield estradiol and/or its 6-ene estradiol with lower conversion rates compared to the corresponding parent steroids 1,4-diene, 1,4,6-triene and 4,6-diene derivatives. The present findings strongly suggest that the aromatase reaction, 19-oxygenation, at least in part, would be involved in the time-dependent inactivation of aromatase by the suicide substrates 1 and 2, where the 19-substitutent would play a critical role in the aromatase reaction probably though steric and electronic reasons.     

Androst-5-ene-7,17-dione: a novel class of suicide substrate of aromatase.

5-En-7-one steroid 1 was found to be a potent inhibitor of aromatase. This along with its 19-hydroxy derivative 7 was characterized as suicide substrate of human placental aromatase (k(inact)'s of 0.069 and 0.058 min-1 and KI's of 143 nM and 11.1 microM, respectively, for steroids 1 and 7). The results suggest that the 19-oxygenation would be involved in the irreversible inactivation of aromatase by the 5-en-7-one steroids.