Microbial transformation of epiandrosterone by Aspergillus sydowii

Incubation of epiandrosterone with Aspergillus sydowii MRC 200653 afforded ten metabolites. The fungal dehydrogenation of epiandrosterone is reported for the first time. The formation of the major metabolite, 6 beta-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione, involved first dehydrogenation to give a 4-ene and then hydroxylation at C-6 beta. Small amounts of the substrate were hydroxylated at C-1 alpha, C-7 alpha, C-7 beta and C-11 alpha