TRANSFORMATION OF STEROIDS WITH CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA

Abstract
This is a report on (1) the reduction of 4-androstene-3,17-dione to testosterone by the metabolic activity of C. pyrenoidosa C-37-2 propagated in a heterotrophic medium, (2) the modification of this strain of C. pyrenoidosa C-37-2 so that it will grow in the presence of progesterone, and (3) some preliminary conversions of dehydroisoandrosterone by this same organism which indicate the possibility of oxidation (hydroxylation) of steroids.