Mucor hiemalis mediated 14α-hydroxylation on steroids: In vivo and in vitro investigations of 14α-hydroxylase activity

• Transformation of testosterone and progesterone using Mucor hiemalis.
• Transformation of steroids into synthetically challenging 14α-hydroxy derivatives.
• Characterization of 7α,14α-dihydroxytestosterone and 6β,14α-dihydroxytestosterone.
• Standardization of conditions for 14α-hydroxylase activity in microsomal suspension.

Transformation of testosterone and progesterone into synthetically challenging 14α-hydroxy derivatives was achieved by using fungal strain Mucor hiemalis. Prolonged incubation led to the formation of corresponding 6β/7α,14α-dihydroxy metabolites. The position and stereochemistry of newly introduced hydroxyl group was determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses. The time course experiment indicated that fungal strain initiated transformation by hydroxylation at 14α-position followed by at 6β- or 7α-positions. Studies using cell-free extracts suggest that the 14α-hydroxylase activity is NADPH dependent and belongs to the cytochrome P450 family.

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