Modeling and optimization of steroid transformation in a mixed culture

Summary Maximization of microbial two-step conversion of 9α-fluorohydrocortisone to Δ¹-dehydro-16α-hydroxy-9α-fluorohydrocortisone (triamcinolone) in a mixed culture of two microorganisms, Arthrobacter simplex and Streptomyces roseochromogenus, was attempted by a digital simulation, to optimize an operational parameter, pH, during batch cultivation. A mathematical model of the steroid transformation in the mixed culture was constructed with nine differential equations. The kinetic parameters other than the Michaelis-Menten constants in the mathematical model varied with pH of the culture medium. The mathematical model facilitated the simulation of the effect of pH on steroid conversion in the mixed culture. A modified Simplex method of direct search was applied to optimize the switching time and the combination of pH values in the batch culture with several step-changes of pH. Varied-pH processes showed much higher conversion yields than the constant pH process. A process of 3-phase pH change is expected to be advantageous in practical operation because of its lower susceptibility to pH perturbation, though the yield is almost the same as that of the 2-phase process.     

Spectrophotometric methods for monitoring the microbial transformation of steroids. II. Absorbance ratio spectrophotometric determination of per cent conversion of 9 -fluoro-16 -hydroxyhydrocortisone to 9 -fluoro-16 -hydroxyprednisolone

A process method has been developed for estimating rapidly the conversion of 9α-fluoro-16α-hydroxyhydrocortisone to 9α-fluoro-16α-hydroxyprednisolone in fermentation broths. This allows frequent analyses of samples during the fermentation cycle. The absorbance ratio determination of conversion of the steroids is based on the measurement of the absorbance of aqueous steroid borate complexes at 241.5 mμ and 271 mμ.     

Role of microsomal steroid hydroxylases in Δ7-steroid biosynthesis

CYP17 (steroid 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase) is a key enzyme in steroid hormone biosynthesis. It catalyzes two independent reactions at the same active center and has a unique ability to differentiate Δ⁴-steroids and Δ⁵-steroids in the 17,20-lyase reaction. The present work presents a complex experimental analysis of the role of CYP17 in the metabolism of 7-dehydrosteroids. The data indicate the existence of a possible alternative pathway of steroid hormone biosynthesis using 7-dehydrosteroids. The major reaction products of CYP17 catalyzed hydroxylation of 7-dehydropregnenolone have been identified. Catalytic activity of CYP17 from different species with 7-dehydropregnenolone has been estimated. It is shown that CYP21 cannot use Δ⁵–Δ⁷ steroids as a substrate.     

Synthesis of novel 13α-18-nor-16-carboxamido steroids via a palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation reaction

13α-18-nor-16-Carboxamido steroids were synthesized via a palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation reaction of the corresponding iodoalkenes. The starting material was an unnatural 13α-16-keto steroid, obtained by a Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement of a 16α,17α-epoxide in the presence of [BMIM][BF₄]. The 13α-16-keto steroid was converted to a mixture of 16-iodo-16-ene and 16-iodo-15-ene derivatives in two steps by Barton’s methodology. Aminocarbonylation of the steroidal alkenyl iodides was carried out using different primary and secondary amines as nucleophiles. The products, 16-carboxamido-16-ene and 16-carboxamido-15-ene derivatives, were obtained in good yields and were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and MS.The reduction of the above two unsaturated carboxamides resulted in the same product, 17α-methyl-16α-carboxamido-androstane.     

Transformation of prednisolone to a 20β-hydroxy prednisolone compound by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces roseochromogenes</Emphasis> TS79

Prednisolone represents an important compound in pharmaceutical preparations. To obtain more bioactive prednisolone derivatives, the microbial transformation of prednisolone was carried out. The steroid products were assigned by an interpretation of their spectral data using mass spectrometry and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) analyses. The product was assigned the chemical structure of 11β, 17α, 20β, 21-tetrahydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3-one (named as 20β-hydroxy prednisolone). The conversion of prednisolone to 20β-hydroxy prednisolone by Streptomyces roseochromogenes TS79 was different from a previous study on the microbial transformation of steroid by this organism, which usually generates a 16α-hydroxy steroid product. The different reaction parameters for maximum conversion of prednisolone were optimized. The analysis revealed that the optimum values of the tested variables were 7.5 mg/ml prednisolone dissolved in DMSO and added to the 24-h pre-culture fermentation culture containing 0.05% MgSO₄ and incubated for 24 h. A conversion of 95.1% of prednisolone was observed, which has the potential to be used in industrial production.     

Structures of Two C-27 Steroids Constituting Asterosaponins A and B

On acid hydrolysis, asterosaponins A and B afforded two C-27 steroids. One was found to be identical to marthasterone, 3β,6α-dihydroxy-5α-cholesta-9(11),24-diene-23-one. Another has been established as a hitherto unknown steroid, 3β,6α,23ξ-trihydroxy-5α-cholest-9(11)-en.     

Determination of estriol, estriol sulfate, progesterone and neutral steroid mono- and disulfates in umbilical cord blood plasma

Fractions of unconjugated steroids, and steroid mono- and disulfates were isolated from cord plasma, and the concentrations of estriol, estriol sulfate, progesterone, 13 neutral steroid monosulfates (MoS) and 10 neutral steroid disulfates (DiS) were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. The mean concentrations in 30 cord plasma samples at term after normal pregnancy and delivery were as follows (μg/100 ml of free steroid ±standard deviation): estriol 16±5; estriol monosulfate 135±43; progesterone 59±19; dehydroepiandrosterone MoS 76±23; 5-androstene-3_β,17_α-diol DiS 279±77; 5-androstene-3_β,17_β-diol DiS 211±109; 16_α-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone MoS 305±97; 16_β-hydroxy-dehydroepiandrosterone DiS 8±25; 33,17_β-dihydroxy-5-androsten-16-one MoS 37±16, DiS 29±15 5-androstene-3_β,16_α,17_β-triol MoS 25±9; 5-androstene-3_β,16_β,17_α-triol DiS 31±14; pregnenolone MoS 4±33; 5-pregnene-3_β,20_α-diol MoS 41±14, DiS 68±43; 16_α-hydroxypregnenolone MoS 101±42; 17-hydroxypregnenolone MoS 56±30; 21-hydroxypregnenolone DiS 26±15; 5-pregnene-3_β,20_α,21-triol MoS 37±18; 5_α-pregnane-3_α,20_α-diol MoS 21±10, DiS 54±21; 5_α-pregnane-3_β,20_α-diol MoS 18±9, DiS 7±39; 5_β-pregnane-3_α,20_α-diol MoS 17±7; 5_α-pregnane-3_α,20_α,21-triol MoS 110±56, DiS 22±19.The total amount of steroid monosulfates in the cord plasma pool was 1 mg/100 ml and that of steroid disulfates 0.5 mg/100 ml. 3_β-Hydroxy-Δ⁵-steroids predominated. Considerable amounts of saturated c₂₁ steroids were also detected. No statistically significant differences were found in the concentrations of any of the steroids studied, when a group of male and female fetuses were compared.     

A Comparison of Growth Inhibition of Tetrahymena furgasoni by C19 and C21 Steroids

The growth inhibition of Tetrahymena furgasoni (once known as “T. pyriformis W”) by C₁₉ and C₂₁ steroids of similar structure was measured by determining cell population at 24 h and 48 h following addition of the steroid. A cis-fusion of the A/B rings junction, unsaturation at C-1,2, or C-4,5 and carbonyl substitution all enhanced inhibition, whereas the presence of two hydroxyl groups decreased inhibition. The results indicated that the transformation of C₁₉ and C₂₁ steroids by this protozoon may be part of a detoxication mechanism.     

Transformation of Δ<Superscript>4</Superscript>-3-ketosteroids by free and immobilized cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodococcus erythropolis</Emphasis> actinobacterium

9α-Hydroxy derivatives were prepared from 11 steroids of androstane and pregnane series using Rhodococcus erythropolis VKPM Ac-1740 culture with 0.5–10 g/l substrate concentration in the reaction mixture. 9α-Monohydroxylation proceeded regardless of the substituent structure at C17. However, the structure of the steroid molecule influenced the time of complete conversion of the substrate and the yield of the transformation product. 9α-Hydroxy-androstenedione was obtained in 35 h in a yield of 85% when the maximum concentration of androstenedione (AD) was 10 g/l. 9α-Hydroxy-AD was also formed by the actinobacterium cells entrapped in poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel beads. Nine successive transformation cycles were carried out using immobilized cells at 4.0 g/l concentration of AD in the medium. The yield of 9α-hydroxy-AD formed during six cycles (from two to eight with the duration of each cycle for 22–24 h) was 98%.     

Quantification by real-time PCR of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris in milk fermented by a mixed culture

During cheese making, interactions between different strains of lactic acid bacteria play an important role. However, few methods are available to specifically determine each bacterial population in mixed cultures, in particular for strains of the same species. The aim of this study was to develop a real-time PCR quantification method to monitor the population of Lactococcus cremoris ATCC 19257 in mixed culture with Lactobacillus rhamnosus RW-9595M and the bacteriocin-producing microorganism Lc. diacetylactis UL719. The specificity of the two primers 68FCa33 and 16SR308 used to amplify a 240-bp fragment of DNA from Lc. cremoris was demonstrated by conventional PCR. Using these primers for real-time PCR, the detection limit was 2 cfu/reaction or 200 cfu of Lc. cremoris ATCC 19257 per millilitre of mixed culture in milk. In pure culture batch fermentation, good correlation was obtained between real-time PCR and the conventional plating method for monitoring Lc. cremoris growth. In mixed culture batch fermentation, Lb. rhamnosus and Lc. cremoris decreased due to nisin Z production by Lc. diacetylactis. The decrease of the Lc. cremoris cell population detected by real-time PCR was not possible to observe by the plate count method in the presence of a Lc. diacetylactis population that was 1 log higher.An erratum to this article can be found at     

生物转化法合成16α-羟基泼尼松龙的发酵工艺研究

目的:研究1株玫瑰产色链霉菌(Streptomyces roseochromogenes)的发酵培养基和底物转化条件,以提高16α-羟基泼尼松龙的转化率。方法:采用紫外与氯化锂复合诱变获得目的菌株TS-58,利用正交实验等方法考查摇瓶发酵条件,研究不同浓度的碳源、氮源对玫瑰产色链霉菌生长的影响,以及不同底物浓度、底物加入时间、装液量、金属离子和添加助溶剂等条件对转化生成16α-羟基泼尼松龙能力的影响。结果:获得最佳转化培养基为葡萄糖10 g/L、可溶性淀粉50 g/L、蛋白胨10 g/L、黄豆饼粉25 g/L、磷酸二氢钾0.2 g/L、硫酸镁0.5 g/L硫酸锌0.5 g/L。在底物投料量5 mg/mL添加0.8 mg/ml PEG助溶剂的最优条件下,16α-羟基泼尼松龙的转化率达到了13.8%。结论:突变株Streptomyces roseochromogenes TS-58能有效地在泼尼松龙上引入16α-羟基羟基,为工业生产16α-羟基泼尼松龙奠定了基础。     

偶联羟化反应和辅酶再生体系产9α-羟基雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮

9α-羟基雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮(9-OH-AD)是一种重要的甾体药物中间体,可以用来制备β-甾酮,地塞米松和其他类固醇化合物。3-甾酮9α-羟基化酶(KSH)是由两个亚基即末端氧化亚基(KshA)和铁氧还蛋白还原亚基(KshB)构成的。在本研究中,人工合成了来源于分枝杆菌Mycobacterium sp.Strain VKM Ac-1817D的kshA和kshB基因,通过优化表达载体促进了KshA和KshB在E.coli BL21(DE3)中的可溶性表达,并探究了催化体系中KSH还原亚基和氧化亚基的最适添加比例。此外,KSH转化雄甾-4-烯-3,17-二酮(AD)为9-OH-AD的过程中需要辅酶NADH。本研究构建了羟基化反应与利用葡萄糖脱氢酶(GDH)的NADH辅酶再生反应的偶联体系。为了进一步提高转化效率,本研究进行了转化条件的优化,并采取了分批补料的策略,最终9-OH-AD产量为4.78 g/L,转化率为96.7%。此种酶介导的转化生产9-OH-AD的方法为甾体药物生产提供了一种环境友好和经济实用型的新策略。     

Bioconversion of 2α-hydroxyprogesterone to 2-hydroxylated corticosteroids by newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture

The bioconversion of 2α-hydroxyprogesterone into 2-hydroxylated steroids was accomplished using newborn rat adrenal cells in primary culture. The products were purified using column and thin-layer chromatography, and identified by GC-MS. They resulted principally from the enzymatic reactions of 21-hydroxylation, 11β-hydroxylation, reduction of 20-oxo and 3-oxo groups, and epimerization of the substrate. In addition, minor metabolites resulted from 18-hydroxylation, 6β-hydroxylation and reduction of the 3-oxo-4-ene group. The identification of these compounds allowed us to conclude that the metabolism of 2α-hydroxyprogesterone is similar to that of progesterone in this cellular system. Assuming that the 2β-epimers of the different metabolites arose principally from the transformation of 2β-hydroxyprogesterone, the specificity of the various enzyme systems seems to be similar for both epimers except in the case of the 11β-hydroxylation where the reaction appears stereospecific for the 2β-epimer. The 2α-hydroxyl group on ring A seems to favor the reduction of the 3-oxo group and it does this stereospecifically to the 3β-structure. The epimerization of the substrate, which is most likely enzymatically induced, is the first example of steroid epimerization reported in the adrenal. This is a practical preparative method for synthesizing a variety of steroids hydroxylated at C-2 from a single substrate and could be adjusted to the production of important quantities of 2-hydroxylated metabolites of corticosteroids.     

Spectrophotometric Methods for Monitoring the Microbial Transformation of Steroids: I. Determination of 9α-Fluorohydrocortisone and 9α-Fluoro-16α-Hydroxyhydrocortisone in Fermentation Broths

A method has been devised for the determination of 9alpha-fluorohydrocortisone and 9alpha-fluoro-16alpha-hydroxyhydrocortisone in fermentation broths. The method involves extraction of the two steroids from the broth with ethyl acetate, separation through the formation of the water-soluble borate complex of the vicinally hydroxylated steroid, and estimation of each steroid spectrophotometrically.     

Hydroxylation of steroids by Fusarium oxysporum, Exophiala jeanselmei and Ceratocystis paradoxa

The potential of Fusarium oxysporum var. cubense UAMH 9013 to perform steroid biotransformations was reinvestigated using single phase and pulse feed conditions. The following natural steroids served as substrates: dehydroepiandrosterone (1), pregnenolone (2), testosterone (3), progesterone (4), cortisone (5), prednisone (6), estrone (7) and sarsasapogenin (8). The results showed the possible presence of C-7 and C-15 hydroxylase enzymes. This hypothesis was explored using three synthetic androstanes: androstane-3,17-dione (9), androsta-4,6-diene-3,17-dione (10) and 3α,5α-cycloandrost-6-en-17-one (11). These fermentations of non-natural steroids showed that C-7 hydroxylation was as a result of that position being allylic. The evidence also pointed towards the presence of a C-15 hydroxylase enzyme.The eleven steroids were also fed to Exophialajeanselmei var. lecanii-corni UAMH 8783. The results showed that the fungus appears to have very active 5α and 14α-hydroxylase enzymes, and is also capable of carrying out allylic oxidations.Ceratocystis paradoxa UAMH 8784 was grown in the presence of the above-mentioned steroids. The results showed that monooxygenases which effect allylic hydroxylation and Baeyer–Villiger rearrangement were active. However, redox reactions predominated.     

Selective 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime formation in steroidal 3,20-diones for hapten immunospecificity

The direct one-step synthesis of 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oximes of representative C₂₁-4-pregnen-3,20-diones is reported. The method requires the preparation of a 3-enamine derivative which, serving as an intermediate product, is readily converted to the 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime upon addition of one molar equivalent of O-(carboxymethyl)hydroxylamine hemihydrochloride. The reaction appears to be generally applicable for selective 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime formation in steroids possessing multi-carbonyl groups, thus facilitating the coupling of steroidal haptens to protein at the C-3 position of the steroid molecule for enhanced immunospecificity. In this manner, antisera to 16α-hydroxyprogesterone and 17α-hydroxy-progesterone were obtained from immunized rabbits and specificity was established by radioimmunoassay.     

Microbial 16β-Hydroxylation of Steroids with Aspergillus niger

Microbial 16β-hydroxylation of some steroids with Wojnowicia graminis, Corticium centrifugum and Bacillus megaterium has been reported, but not 16β-hydroxylation of normal 17-oxo steroids with Aspergillus niger. This time, we tried microbial transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone with this fungus, and obtained 4-androstene-3,17-dione, 17β-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,16-dione, 16β,17β-dihydroxy-4-androsten-3-one and a new compound, 16β-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione. This new compound was also obtained by the fermentation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione and testosterone.     

The steroid metabolome in lamotrigine-treated women with epilepsy

Background

Epilepsy in women may be associated with reproductive disorders and alterations in serum steroid levels. Some steroids can be induced by epilepsy and/or treatment with antiepileptic drugs; however, there are still limited data available concerning this effect on the levels of other neuroactive steroid metabolites such as 3a-hydroxy-5a/b-reduced androstanes.

Aim

To evaluate steroid alterations in women with epilepsy (WWE) on lamotrigine monotherapy.

Subjects and methods

Eleven WWE and 11 age-matched healthy women underwent blood sampling in both phases of their menstrual cycles (MCs). The steroid metabolome, which included 30 unconjugated steroids, 17 steroid polar conjugates, gonadotropins, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), was measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA).

Results

WWE had lower cortisol levels (status p < 0.001), but elevated levels of unconjugated 17-hydroxypregnenolone (status p < 0.001). Progesterone was higher in the follicular menstrual phase (FP) in WWE than in the controls (status × menstrual phase p < 0.05, Bonferroni multiple comparisons p < 0.05), whereas 17-hydroxyprogesterone was higher in WWE in both menstrual phases (status p < 0.001). The steroid conjugates were mostly elevated in WWE. The levels of 5α/β-reduced androstanes in WWE that were significantly higher than the controls were etiocholanolone (status p < 0.001), 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol (status p < 0.001), and the 5α/β-reduced androstane polar conjugates (status p < 0.001).

Conclusions

WWE showed a trend toward higher circulating 3α-hydroxy-5α/β-reduced androstanes, increased activity of 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase in the Δ⁵-steroid metabolic pathway, and increased levels of the steroid polar conjugates.     

Interaction of prostaglandins with adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the guinea pig

Studies were carried out to investigate the effects of prostaglandins (PG) $\text{in vitro}$ on adrenal microsomal steroid and drug metabolism in the guinea pig. The addition of PGE₁, PGE₂, PGA₁, PGF_1α or PGF_2α to isolated adrenal microsomes produced typical type I difference spectra. The sizes of the spectra (ΔA_385–420) produced by prostaglandins were smaller than those produced by various steroids including progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 11β-hydroxyprogesterone. However, the affinities of prostaglandins and steroids for adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450, as estimated by the spectral dissociation constants, were similar. Prior addition of prostaglandins to isolated adrenal microsomes did not affect steroid binding to cytochrome P-450 or the rate of steroid 21-hydroxylation. In contrast, prostaglandins inhibited adrenal metabolism of ethylmorphine and diminished the magnitude of the ethylmorphine-induced spectral change in adrenal microsomes. The results indicate that prostaglandins inhibit adrenal drug metabolism by interfering with substrate binding to cytochrome P-450. Since 21-hydroxylation was unaffected by PG, different cytochrome P-450 moieties are probably involved in adrenal drug and steroid metabolism.     

Aromatization of 9α-hydroxy-19-norandrostenedione by Arthrobacter simplex

9α-Hydroxy-19-norandrostenedionc (9α-hydroxy-Δ⁴-estrene 3, 17-dione) (IV) was prepared by fermentation of 19-norandroslenedione with Corynespora melanis or Norcardia restriclus. When incubated with a growing culture of Arthrobacter simplex or its acetone-dried cells, IV was converted to 9α-hydroxyestronc (VII) and 9-keto-9, 10-secoestrone (VI). 9α-Hydroxyestrone undergoes spontaneous as well as enzymic dehydration to form Δ⁹⁽¹¹⁾-estrone (IX). Both VI and IX have been isolated and identified as such while VII was isolated as its 3-acetate.