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A Dual Role Reductase from Phytosterols Catabolism Enables the Efficient Production of Valuable Steroid Precursors
Author(s) -
Peng Haidong,
Wang Yaya,
Jiang Kai,
Chen Xinru,
Zhang Wenlu,
Zhang Yanan,
Deng Zixin,
Qu Xudong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202015462
Subject(s) - catabolism , steroid , phytosterol , chemistry , reductase , biochemistry , peroxisome , androstenedione , hydroxymethyl , enzyme , stereochemistry , receptor , androgen , hormone
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.