Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bioconversion of phytosterols to androstanes by mycobacteria growing on sugar cane mud

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology

Abstract

Direct sterol conversion of sugar cane mud (residue) by Mycobacterium sp. was demonstrated to be possible technologically, thus avoiding sugar cane oil extraction and further processes of extraction and purification of phytosterols from this oil. Indeed, mycobacterial cells were able to convert phytosterols from sugar cane mud into 4-androstene-dione (AD) and 1,4 androsta-diene-3,17-dione (ADD). For the various concentrations assayed, concomitant higher yields for both androstanes were achieved at 20% (w/w) sugar cane mud in media. Furthermore, conversions were similar to those from other substrates, such as a mixture of phytosterols. The results suggest that the mycobacterial cell is able to easily access and bioconvert sugar cane mud phytosterols.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Blanco G (1980) Derivados de cachaza. In: ICIDCA (ed) Los derivados de la caña de azúcar. (ICIDCA Cap XXXIV) Científico-Técnica, Habana, 421 pp

  2. Borrego S, Pérez I, Pérez C, Tirado S, Fajardo M, Orozco L, Falero A, Hung B, Llanes N (2002) Procedimiento para obtener androstadiendiona (ADD) y androstendiona (AD) a partir de los fitosteroles de la caña de azúcar. Cuban patent CU 22899

  3. Fernandes P, Cruz A, Angelova B, Pinheiro HM, Cabral JMS (2003) Microbial conversion of steroid compounds: recent developments. Enzyme Microb Technol 6277:1–18

    Google Scholar 

  4. Flygare S, Larson P-O (1989) Steroid transformation in aqueous two-phase systems: side chain degradation of cholesterol by Mycobacterium sp. Enzyme Microb Technol 11:752–759

    Google Scholar 

  5. Biojournal (2000) Forbes granted patent on microbial conversion (Monday, 19 June).http://www.biojournal.com/start.html http://www.biojournal.com/start.html

  6. Goswami PC, Singh HD (1984) Isolation of phytosterols from sugar cane pressed mud and microbial conversion of the phytosterols to 17-ketosteroids. Curr Sci 53:917–919

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hesselink P, Vliet S van, Vries H de, Witholt B (1989) Optimization of steroid side chain cleavage by Mycobacterium sp in the presence of cyclodextrins. Enzyme Microb Technol 11:398–404

    Google Scholar 

  8. Iida M (1987) Japanese patent 62,198,400

  9. Kieslich K (1985) Microbial side chain degradation of sterols. J Basic Microbiol 25:461–469

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kutney JP, Novak E, Jones PJ (1998) Process for isolating a phytosterol composition from pulping soap. US patent 5:770–749

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mahato SB, Majumdar I (1993) Current trends in microbial steroid transformation. Phytochemistry 34:883–898

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mahato SB, Garai S (1997) Advances in microbial steroid transformation. Steroids 62:332–345

    Google Scholar 

  13. Marsheck WJ, Kraychy S, Muir R (1972) Microbial degradation of sterols. Appl Microbiol 23:72–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Martin CK (1977) Microbial cleavage of sterol side chain. Adv Appl Microbiol 22:29

    Google Scholar 

  15. Origuela G (1978) Procedimiento de recuperación de fitosteroles de cera cruda de cachaza. Cuban patent CU 21322 A1

  16. Pandey BN (1966) By-products of the sugar cane industry and their utilization. Indian Sugar 16:205–210

    Google Scholar 

  17. Paturau JM (1969) By-products of sugar cane industry. An introduction to their industrial utilization in America. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 274 pp

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pérez C, Pérez I, Hervé E (1995) Isolation and partial characterization of a new mutant for sterol biotransformation in Mycobacterium sp. Biotechnol Lett 17:1241–1246

    Google Scholar 

  19. Phase N, Patil S (1994) Natural oils are better than organic solvents for the conversion of soybean sterols to 17-ketosteroids by Mycobacterium fortuitum. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 10:228–229

    Google Scholar 

  20. Smith M, Zahley J, Pfeifer D, Goff D (1993) Growth and cholesterol oxidation by Mycobacterium species in Tween 80. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:1425–1429

    Google Scholar 

  21. Szykula J, Hebda C, Orpiszewski J (1991) Microbial transformation of neutral fraction and upgraded neutral fraction of Polish tall-oil. Biotechnol Lett 13:917–921

    Google Scholar 

  22. Verdecia F, Padilla A, Calcines D (1987) Procedimiento industrial para el aislamiento de la mezcla de fitosteroles de la fracción de aceite de la cera de caña de azúcar. Cuban patent CU 21593 A1

  23. Wovcha MG, Antosz FJ, Fnight JC, Kominek LA, Pyke TR (1978) Bioconversion of sitosterol to useful steroidal intermediates by mutants of Mycobacterium fortuitum. Biochim Biophys Acta 531:308–321

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Zérega L (1993) Manejo y uso agronómico de la cachaza en suelos cañameleros. Cana Azucar 11:2

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The technical assistance of O. López, M.E. Hervé, M.E. Espinosa, E. Lightbourne, M. Fonseca, B. Aguila and E. Martí is gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnological Processes, National Center for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 6990, Havana, Cuba

    C. Pérez, A. Falero, B. R. Hung, S. Tirado & Y. Balcinde

Authors
  1. C. Pérez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Falero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. R. Hung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Tirado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Y. Balcinde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Falero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pérez, C., Falero, A., Hung, B.R. et al. Bioconversion of phytosterols to androstanes by mycobacteria growing on sugar cane mud. J IND MICROBIOL BIOTECHNOL 32, 83–86 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0196-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-004-0196-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation