Abstract
Because of the importance of microbial metabolites of cholesterol as precursors in
the synthesis of steroidal drugs, we decided to study the ability of Arthrobacter
simplex to degrade cholesterol. Arthrobacter simplex cleaves the side chain of
cholesterol in the presence of 2,2'-dipyridyl and produces 4-androstene-3,17- dione
(AD) and androsta- 1,4-diene-3,17-dione(ADD). Two other intermediates with intact
side chain, 4-cholestene-3-one and cholesta- l,4-diene-3-one were also detected and
purified in the culture of A. simplex
)