Microbial transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by some fungi

In this work, biotransformations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) 1 by Ulocladium chartarum MRC 72584, Cladosporium sphaerospermum MRC 70266 and Cladosporium cladosporioides MRC 70282 have been reported. U. chartarum MRC 72584 mainly hydroxylated 1 at C-7α and C-7β, accompanied by a minor hydroxylation at C-4β, a minor epoxidation from the β-face and a minor oxidation at C-7 subsequent to its hydroxylations. 3β,7β-Dihydroxy-5β,6β-epoxyandrostan-17-one 6, 3β,4β,7α-trihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one 7 and 3β,4β,7β-trihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one 8 from this incubation were identified as new metabolites. C. sphaerospermum MRC 70266 converted some of 1 into a 3-keto-4-ene steroid and then hydroxylated at C-6α, C-6β and C-7α, accompanied a minor 5α-reduction and a minor oxidation at C-6 following its hydroxylations. C. sphaerospermum MRC 70266 also hydroxylated some of 1 at C-7α and C-7β. C. cladosporioides MRC 70282 converted almost half of 1 into a 3-keto-4-ene steroid and then hydroxylated at C-6α and C-6β. C. cladosporioides MRC 70282 also reduced some of 1 at C-17.