A Dual Role Reductase from Phytosterols Catabolism Enables the Efficient Production of Valuable Steroid Precursors

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2021 Mar 1;60(10):5414-5420. doi: 10.1002/anie.202015462. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Abstract

4-Androstenedione (4-AD) and progesterone (PG) are two of the most important precursors for synthesis of steroid drugs, however their current manufacturing processes suffer from low efficiency and severe environmental issues. In this study, we decipher a dual-role reductase (mnOpccR) in the phytosterols catabolism, which engages in two different metabolic branches to produce the key intermediate 20-hydroxymethyl pregn-4-ene-3-one (4-HBC) through a 4-e reduction of 3-oxo-4-pregnene-20-carboxyl-CoA (3-OPC-CoA) and 2-e reduction of 3-oxo-4-pregnene-20-carboxyl aldehyde (3-OPA), respectively. Inactivation or overexpression of mnOpccR in the Mycobacterium neoaurum can achieve exclusive production of either 4-AD or 4-HBC from phytosterols. By utilizing a two-step synthesis, 4-HBC can be efficiently converted into PG in a scalable manner (100 gram scale). This study deciphers a pivotal biosynthetic mechanism of phytosterol catabolism and provides very efficient production routes of 4-AD and PG.

Keywords: acyl-CoA reductase; biosynthesis; biosynthetic pathway; semi-synthesis; steroids.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androstenedione / chemical synthesis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biocatalysis
  • Mycobacteriaceae / enzymology
  • Mycobacteriaceae / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Phytosterols / metabolism*
  • Pregnenes / chemistry
  • Pregnenes / metabolism*
  • Progesterone / chemical synthesis

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Phytosterols
  • Pregnenes
  • Androstenedione
  • Progesterone
  • Oxidoreductases

Supplementary concepts

  • Mycolicibacterium neoaurum