Highly selective bile acid hydroxylation by the multifunctional bacterial P450 monooxygenase CYP107D1 (OleP)

Objective Regio- and stereoselective hydroxylation of lithocholic acid (LCA) using CYP107D1 (OleP), a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from the oleandomycin synthesis pathway of Streptomyces antibioticus. Results Co-expression of CYP107D1 from S. antibioticus and the reductase/ferredoxin system PdR/PdX from Pseudomonas putida was performed in Escherichia coli whole cells. In vivo hydroxylation of LCA exclusively yielded the 6β-OH product murideoxycholic acid (MDCA). In resting cells, 19.5% of LCA was converted to MDCA within 24 h, resulting in a space time yield of 0.04 mmol L−1 h−1. NMR spectroscopy confirmed the identity of MDCA as the sole product. Conclusions The multifunctional P450 monooxygenase CYP107D1 (OleP) can hydroxylate LCA, forming MDCA as the only product.