Popular biotransformations throughout history have included utilising yeast to convert glucose to ethanol and CO2, the use of lactic acid bacteria to make yoghurt and the employment of the fungus Aspergillus niger to make citric acid. More recent biotransformation technologies, however, have become more sophisticated, involving such procedures as the production of pharmaceuticals and the development of methods to reduce environmental pollution.

Biotransformation Technology in the Production of Steroid Hormones

Steroid hormones ( fig.1) are important therapeutic drugs, as they assist in various metabolic functions in the human body. Manufacturing these chemicals involves many steps and the costs involved can be exorbitant. Recent use of micro fungi and bacteria to carry out some of these steps has proved to be extremely efficient and cost effective.

Examples include using the fungus Rhizopus arrhizus to convert progesterone to 11- hydroxy progesterone and finally to cortisone (fig.2), which is an antiarthritic drug. In this process, progesterone is added to a fermentation tank containing the fungus, which hydroxylates the progesterone at the number 11 carbon atom in its steroid ring.

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