Testosterone metabolism by pure and mixed cultures of human corynebacteria

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters 1987-03, Vol.41 (1), p.53-58
• Main Authors: Nixon, A., Jackman, P.J.H., Mallet, A.I., Gower, D.B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corynebacterium; Metabolism; Testosterone
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1987.tb02140.x

The metabolism of testosterone by 21 different corynebacteria has been analysed in pure and mixed culture. In pure cultures, the occurrence of the following enzymic activities was confirmed; 3α(β)‐oxido‐reductase, 4‐ene‐5α(β)‐reductase, 17β‐oxido‐reductase and 17‐isomerase. Mixed cultures, formed by co‐inoculating the pure strains in groups of 3, showed formation of 3β‐hydroxy‐5β‐androstan‐17‐one, which was not detected in pure cultures. Mixing cultures which displayed 4‐ene‐5β‐reductase activity (formation of 17β‐hydroxy‐5β‐androstan‐3‐one(5β‐DHT)) with those showing 17‐oxido‐reductase activity (production of 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione) sometimes showed evidence for an additive effect, in the formation of 5β‐androstane‐3,17‐dione. Other combinations of strains showed either no effects or inhibitory effects on 5β‐androstane‐3,17‐dione formation. Strain groupings based on the amounts of 5β‐DHT or 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione, as assessed by densitometry of autoradiographs, showed some correlation with previously published groupings based on whole cell protein patterns [1].