Microbial hydroxylation of epiandrosterone by Aspergillus candidus

Abstract

In this work, Aspergillus candidus MRC 22634 converted epiandosterone 1 into 10 hydroxylated metabolites. A. candidus has been shown to hydroxylate 1 predominantly at C-11, C-1, and C-15 with minor hydroxylations occurring at C-14 and C-7. Oxidation at C-3, reduction at C-17, and C-3 epimerization of some of the remaining substrate have also been shown. 15-Hydroxylation and C-3 epimerization of 1 by a fungus were reported for the first time. Two of the metabolites, 1,3-dihydroxy-5-androstan-17-one 4 and 15,17-dihydroxy-5-androstan-3-one 7, were identified as new compounds.