Some observations on the delta 1-dehydrogenation of steroids by Bacillus sphaericus
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Ralph I. Dorfman; Vladimir Stefanovic; Mika Hayano
- Source
- Biochimica et biophysica acta. 71
- Subject
- chemistry.chemical_classification
Insecta
biology
medicine.medical_treatment
Substrate (chemistry)
Bacillus
General Medicine
Electron acceptor
biology.organism_classification
Bacillus sphaericus
Reversible reaction
Quinone
Catalysis
Steroid
chemistry
medicine
Organic chemistry
Animals
Dehydrogenation
Steroids
Oxidoreductases
- Language
- ISSN
- 0006-3002
A study of the Δ1-dehydrogenation of steroids by intact cells and cell-free preparations of Bacillus sphaericus (ATCC 7055) has been made. The catalysis comprises of two phases, first a reversible reaction where a rapid exchange of the hydrogens of C-1α and C-2 of the steroid substrate occurs with the hydrogen of the medium, and the second, the essentially irreversible formation of the Δ1 bond. Examination of these two phases with the use of tritium-labelled steroids and tritium oxide-enriched water has been made. Various electron acceptors have been tested with a cell-free preparation of Δ1-dehydrogenase and it has been shown that substances with the quinone structure are highly effective.