Recent developments in the enzymatic modifications of steroid scaffolds

Steroids are an important family of bioactive compounds. Steroid drugs are renowned for their multifaceted pharmacological activities and are the second-largest category in the global pharmaceutical market. Recent developments in biocatalysis and biosynthesis have led to the increased use of enzymes to enhance the selectivity, efficiency, and sustainability for diverse modifications of steroids. This review discusses the advancements achieved over the past five years in the enzymatic modifications of steroid scaffolds, focusing on enzymatic hydroxylation, reduction, dehydrogenation, cascade reactions, and other modifications for future research on the synthesis of novel steroid compounds and related drugs, and new therapeutic possibilities. This review highlights the recent advancements in the enzymatic modifications of steroid scaffolds, emphasizing enzymatic hydroxylation, ketoreduction, dehydrogenation, enzymatic cascade reactions, and other modifications.