This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bokkenheuser, V D Articles by Locascio, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bokkenheuser, V D Articles by Locascio, S Agricola Articles by Bokkenheuser, V D Articles by Locascio, S

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1986 November; 52(5): 1153-1156

Steroid desmolase synthesis by Eubacterium desmolans and Clostridium cadavaris.

ABSTRACT

The synthesis of a steroid desmolase was demonstrated in two obligate anaerobes: a new bacterial species, Eubacterium desmolans, isolated from cat fecal flora, and Clostridium cadavaris, recovered from sewage of New York City. The enzyme cleaves the C-17-C-20 bond of corticoids possessing hydroxyl functions at C-17 and C-21. The conversion is quantitative, provided the substrate concentration is less than 100 micrograms/ml and the organisms are in the log phase. The velocity of transformation parallels the bacterial growth curve and in the log phase is higher for E. desmolans than for C. cadavaris. In addition, both organisms synthesize a 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.