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Efficient Biotransformation of Phytosterols to Dehydroepiandrosterone by Mycobacterium sp.

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Abstract

In this study, a method for the efficient production of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from phytosterols in a vegetable oil/aqueous two-phase system by Mycobacterium sp. was developed. After the 3-hydroxyl group of phytosterols was protected, they could be converted into DHEA with high yield and productivity by Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3683. In a shake flask biotransformation, 15.05 g l−1 of DHEA and a DHEA yield of 85.39% (mol mol−1) were attained after 7 days with an initial substrate concentration of 25 g l−1. When biotransformation was carried out in a 30-l stirred bioreactor with 25 g l−1 substrate, the DHEA concentration and yield was 16.33 g l−1 and 92.65% (mol mol−1) after 7 days, respectively. The results of this study suggest that inexpensive phytosterols could be utilized for the efficient production of DHEA.

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Funding

This research was supported by grants from the Key Project of Science and Technology of Henan Province (No. 152102210255) and the Foundation for University Young Back-bone Teachers of Henan Province (No. 2014GGJS-157).

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Author notes

  1. Pei Zhou and Ya-kun Fang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Institute of Microbial Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People’s Republic of China

    Pei Zhou, Ya-kun Fang, Hao-ke Yao, Hua Li, Gang Wang & Yu-peng Liu

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  1. Pei Zhou
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  2. Ya-kun Fang
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  3. Hao-ke Yao
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Correspondence to Gang Wang or Yu-peng Liu.

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Zhou, P., Fang, Yk., Yao, Hk. et al. Efficient Biotransformation of Phytosterols to Dehydroepiandrosterone by Mycobacterium sp.. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 186, 496–506 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2739-x

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