THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC SOLVENTS ON THE CELL MEMBRANE OF BURKHOLDERIA
CEPACIA ZWS15 AND ITS TRANSFORMATION OF CHOLESTEROL: FOCUSING ON
CHOLEST-4-ENE-3,6-DIONE AND CHOLEST-4-EN-3-ONE
Abstract
Microbial transformation of cholesterol produces various steroid drugs
and intermediates, such as cholest-4-en-3-one (C4EO), which is an
important intermediate of hormone steroidal drugs.
Cholest-4-ene-3,6-dione (CEDO) is another product of cholesterol
biotransformation, with better medicinal value than cholest-4-en-3-one.
It is indicated to improve fat metabolism, resistance to tumors and
essential in the treatment of nerve injuries. This study proceeded using
Burkholderia cepacia ZWS15, which is known to produce enzymes to
transform cholesterol. Organic solvents were chosen to increase the
solubility of the substrate cholesterol and the conversion of the
product, and the organic solvent affects the mechanism of product
conversion and cell membrane permeability. The use of organic solvents
in this study prompted shifts in the composition of fatty acids in the
cell membrane, inducing the production of more unsaturated fatty acids
and reduction of saturated fatty acids. The alkenone products generated
after transformation of cholesterol were isolated.