Microbial Production of 3-Oxobisnorchola-l,4-dien-22-oic Acid

Among examined microorganisms which have ability to decompose cholesterol, Nocardia corallim IFO 3338 converted cholesterol to 3-oxobisnorchoIa-l,4-dien-22-oic acid (BDA) at the conversion rate of 63%. The conversion product was identified as BDA by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV, IR, MS and elemental analysis. The presence of chelating agents or some metal ions was necessary for the accumulation of BDA. The most effective agents for the accumulation were α,α′-dipyridyl and o-phenanthroline. For the production of BDA, cholestanol, β-sitosterol, soy sterol (mixture), cholest-4-en-3-one and lithocholic acid could also be used as substrates other than cholesterol.