An improved 11 α-hydroxylation of progesterone by Aspergillus ochraceus TS

Abstract

The stereospecific hydroxylation of progesterone exclusively to its 11.alpha.-hydroxy derivative by A. ochraceus TS is reported. There is no secondary metabolite (6.beta.,11.alpha.-dihydroxyprogesterone) formed even when the transformation was attempted with different concentrations of the substrate (200.mu.g/ml-20mg/ml) for prolonged incubation periods. When transformation was carried out in a medium supplemented with Zn2+ at a concentration of 50.mu.g/ml identical results were obtained. Similar results were also obtained at different pH values of the culture medium.