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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2002, p. 859-864, Vol. 68, No. 2
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.2.859-864.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biotransformation and Bioconcentration of Steroid Estrogens by Chlorella vulgaris

K. M. Lai, M. D. Scrimshaw, and J. N. Lester*

Environmental Processes and Water Technology Group, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom

Received 30 July 2001/ Accepted 21 November 2001

The biotransformation and bioconcentration of natural and synthetic steroid estrogens by Chlorella vulgaris were investigated by using batch-shaking experiments with incubation for 48 h in the light or dark. Estradiol and estrone were interconvertible in both light and dark conditions; however, this biotransformation showed a preference for estrone. In the light, 50% estradiol was further metabolized to an unknown product. Apart from biotransformation, estrone, as well as hydroxyestrone, estriol, and ethinylestradiol, was relatively stable in the algal culture, whereas estradiol valerate was hydrolyzed to estradiol and then to estrone within 3 h of incubation. All of the tested estrogens exhibited a degree of partitioning to C. vulgaris; however, the concentrations of estriol, hydroxyestrone, ethinylestradiol, and estradiol valerate were always below the quantification limits. For estradiol and estrone, the partitioning of these estrogens in the algal extracts to the filtrates was <6% of the total amount present. The average concentration factor for estrone was ca. 27; however, the concentration factor for estradiol was not reported since no equilibrium was reached between the aqueous solution and that within the cells due to continuing biotransformation.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Environmental Processes and Water Technology Group, Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BP, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (0) 20-7594-6014. Fax: 44 (0) 20-7594-6016. E-mail: j.lester{at}ic.ac.uk.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 2002, p. 859-864, Vol. 68, No. 2
0099-2240/02/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.68.2.859-864.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Yoshimoto, T., Nagai, F., Fujimoto, J., Watanabe, K., Mizukoshi, H., Makino, T., Kimura, K., Saino, H., Sawada, H., Omura, H. (2004). Degradation of Estrogens by Rhodococcus zopfii and Rhodococcus equi Isolates from Activated Sludge in Wastewater Treatment Plants. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 5283-5289 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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