Biotransformations of testosterone by Cladosporium sphaerospermum and Ulocladium chartarum

In this study, biotransformations of testosterone by Cladosporium sphaerospermum MRC 70266 and Ulocladium chartarum MRC 72584 were performed. Incubation of testosterone with Cladosporium sphaerospermum MRC 70266 afforded 6β-hidroksiandrost-4-en-3,17-dion (8%), 6β,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (40%), 7β,17β-dihydroxyandrostane-3-one (7%), 15α,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (5%), 6β,16β,17β-trihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (3%) and 6β,12β,17β-trihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (2%). Incubation of testosterone with the same substrate afforded androst-4-en-3,17-dione (3%), 5α-androstane-3,6,17-trione (4%), 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstane-3,6-dione (9%), 7β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3,17-dione (3%), 7β,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (11%), 14α,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (12%) and 12β,17β-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one (9%). 6β,16β,17β-Trihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one and 6β,12β,17β-trihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one were idendified as new compounds. The structures of the metabolites were revealed by comparing melting points, NMR and IR spectra of the starting material with those of metabolites.