Engineering Pichia pastoris for the efficient production of the high-value steroid intermediate 15α-OH-D-ethylgonendione.

ABSTRACT: 15α-OH-D-ethylgonendione (15α-OH-DE) is a key intermediate for the synthesis of steroid drug gestodene, a major component of a new generation of powerful contraceptives. Synthetic access to 15α-OH-DE by chemical means is limited by low titers and generation of toxic byproducts. To develop a sustainable process for 15α-OH-DE production, a whole-cell catalyst was constructed by engineering Pichia pastoris co-overexpressing the PRH gene from filamentous fungus Penicillium raistrickii, which encodes a steroid 15α-hydroxylase capable of selectively 15α-hydroxylating DE, and the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase gene ZWF1 from the baker's yeast for enhanced NADPH production. Shake-flask cultivation was performed to optimize fermentation parameters and assess the potential of the engineered P. pa

SUBMITTER: Zeng YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12278525 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature