7α and 7β Hydroxylation of Dehydroepiandrosterone by Gibberella sp. and Absidia Coerulea Biotransformation

The hydroxylation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to 7α -hydroxy-5-androstene-17-one (7α-OH-DHEA) and 7β-hydroxy-5-androstene-17-one (7β-OH-DHEA) by Gibberella sp. CICC 2498 and Absidia coerulea CICC 41050 was investigated. The media ingredients were optimized. Single factors such as the DHEA concentration, culture time, medium volume, and inoculum rate were individually investigated to generate optimum biotransformation conditions. An orthogonal optimization process using a four-factor, three- level L9 (33) experiment was designed and performed. Finally, the maximum production of 7β-OH-DHEA from DHEA biotransformation by Absidia coerulea is 69.61%. This strategy would provide a possible way to enhance the 7β-OH-DHEA yield in the pharmaceutical industry.