The present work was carried out to study structural modification of steroids by Geobacillus kaustophilus, a bacterial thermophile present in milk and the environment. Incubation of progesterone and testosterone with G. kaustophilus at 65 degrees C resulted in oxygenated steroid nuclei. The oxygenation of the steroid molecule was stereo specific. Seven metabolites of progesterone horizontal line 6beta/6alpha-hydroxytestosterone, 20-hydroxyprogesterone, 6beta-/6alpha-20-dihydroxyprogesterone, 5alpha-pregnane-3,6,20-trione, and 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnane-6,20-dione horizontal line were identified. Four compounds horizontal line namely, 66-/6--hydroxytestosterone and 6beta/6alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione horizontal line and androst-4-en-3,17-dione were identified as testosterone metabolites. This shows that G. kaustophilus is capable of modifying steroid nuclei at elevated temperatures. G. kaustophilus is a stable thermophile first isolated from milk. Our results show that endogenous steroids present in milk can be modified by G. kaustophilus, causing detrimental effect on human health.
Current study was initiated to investigate steroid hydroxylation potential of a new food born thermophile Geobacillus kaustophilus. Incubation of progesterone and testosterone with G. kaustophilus resulted in stereospecific hydroxylation of progesterone and testosterone giving monohydroxylated and dihydroxylated products. A cleavage of ring B of the steroid nucleus was also obtained which is a novel metabolite. Geobacillus kaustophilus has not been used before for steroid hydroxylations. Thermophilic enzymes have a significant advantage for their isolation at elevated temperatures and can be used for cell free transformations offering a convenient method for introduction of hydroxyl groups in a stereospecific and regiospecific manner into steroid nuclei. Stereochemical oxygenation of a steroid nucleus is not possible with chemical reactions and microbial hydroxylation of steroids may have a direct impact on drug development.ConclusionG. kaustophilus has an excellent potential for stereospecific hydroxylation of natural steroid nucleus at elevated temperature. This study was supported by Research Administration, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
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