ISSN:
1420-9071
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Certain fungi, especially of the genusFusarium, are capable of rapidly degrading the side chain of 20-keto-pregnenes to the corresponding 17-ketones and, simultaneously, of dehydrogenating ringA. ThusΔ 1,4-3,17-diketo-androstadiene is formed almost quantitatively fromΔ 4-3,20-diketo-pregnenes and fromΔ 4-3,17-diketo-androstene, and in lower yields from the analogousΔ 5-3β-hydroxy compounds. The side chain of saturated 3-keto- or 3β-hydroxy-allopregnane-20-ones is also degraded quickly, but dehydrogenation in ringA proceeds more slowly. 17α-hydroxy-groups prevent the degradation of the side chain. By means of this microbiological process in combination withInhoffen's aromatisation reaction, progesterone can be transformed in only two steps into estrone.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02167636
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