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Steroid transformation by mutants of Mycobacterium sp. with altered response to antibiotics
S Barthakur1, M K Roy, S K Bera
1Division of Biochemistry, Regional Research Laboratory, Assam, India.
Abstract:
Mycobacterium sp. NRRLB3683 which is capable to convert beta-sitosterol to 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione (ADD) was treated with methyl methane sulfonate and two strains with altered sensitivity to various antibiotics were obtained. One of the strain was steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative and the other positive. Efficiency of utilization of sterols followed the order beta-sitosterol > cholesterol > soluble cholesterol. The steroid 1(2)-dehydrogenase negative strain was capable of producing 17KS (AD) from beta-sitosterol and converting AD to testosterone and ADD to AD suggesting the negative role of 1(2)-dehydrogenase in sterol side chain cleavage and decrease in hydrogenase activity by mutation. But this enzyme can perform the reverse reaction under aerobic condition.