The hydroxylation of testosterone and some relatives by Cephalosporium aphidicola

The fungus Cephalosporium aphidicola has been shown to hydroxylate testosterone, 19-nortestosterone, 1-dehydrotestosterone, 1 alpha-methyltestosterone, androst-4-en-3-one, androst-4-en-3,17-dione and 17 alpha-methyltestosterone predominantly at the C-6 beta position with a minor hydroxylation occurring at the C-14 alpha position. 19-Nortestosterone was also hydroxylated at the C-10 beta position. In contrast to the hydroxylation of progesterone by this organism, hydroxylation at C-11 alpha was a minor pathway.