Novel oxidative cleavage of C17-C20 bond in pregnane by a Pseudomonas sp

Oxidative cleavage of the C17-C20 bond in progesterone by Pseudomonas sp. is reported. Transformation occurred under in vivo conditions. The bioconverted products were characterized as 1,4-androstadien-3,17-dione and 17 beta-hydroxy-1,4-androstadien-3-one. The steroid nucleus was not further degraded although the test organism had the capacity to induce dehydrogenation at C1 of this alpha, beta-conjugated steroid.