Steroid bioconversion in water-insoluble organic solvents: Δ1-Dehydrogenation by free microbial cells and by cells entrapped in hydrophilic or lipophilic gels

A cell suspension in a water-insoluble organic solvent (benzene: n-heptane, 1 : 1 by volume) of Nocardia rhodocrous (previously induced to synthesize steroid Δ¹dehydrogenase) rapidly catalyzed the stoichiometric oxidation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-AD) to androst-l,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) in the presence of phenazine methosulfate (PMS). High levels of 4-AD or PMS reduced the conversion rates. No appreciable decrease in the conversion rate was observed on adding aqueous buffer solution to the thawed ceils (up to 9.4 g water/g dry cell). The whole cells were immobilized by entrapment in a hydrophilic gel (H-gel) or a lipophilic gel (L-gel) by use of a water-soluble or water-insoluble photocrosslinkable prepolymer. The reticula of H- and L-gel matrices were impregnated with water and organic solvent, respectively. Both the H- and L-gels could convert 4-AD to ADD in the presence of PMS, the L-gel showing a slightly higher conversion rate. Various lines of evidence indicate that the limiting factor is the penetration rate of 4-AD into gel particles for the H-gel, and the penetration rate of PMS for the L-gel. The catalytic activities decreased considerably after several successive runs with the free cell suspension system, while the immobilized cells were more stable, the stability of H-gel and L-gel being almost the same.