Abstract

Biocatalysis is also widely applicable for the enhancement of bioprocess productivity, selectivity of target reactions, and production of valuable chemicals, pharmaceutical ingredients, precursors, and key intermediates. The vast majority of such enzymes are of microbial origin and include dehydrogenases, oxygenases, hydrolases, transferases, and lyases. These enzymes may introduce minor molecule changes, such as the insertion of a hydroxyl or keto function or the saturation or desaturation of a complex cyclic structure. Microorganisms and cell suspension cultures of the plant are applied in biotransformations of steroidal drugs to generate high regio-and stereo-selective products. Studies of steroid modifications catalyzed by microbial or plant cell cultures represent a well-established research approach and methodology in biotechnology. Bioconversion can occur at a position of the steroid molecule that is rarely accessible to chemical agents; the molecule can function stereospecifically, and several reactions can be completed in a single biotechnological step.