[Effect of several compounds on the process of reduction of the 20-keto group of corticosteroids by a culture of Mycobacterium globiforme]. / Vliianie nekotorykh soedinenii na protsess vosstanovleniia 20-ketogruppy kortikosteroidov kul'turoi Mycobacterium globiforme.

The effect of certain metabolites produced in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats on the reduction of the 20-keto group in a number of corticosteroids (prednisone, prenisolone, 6 alpha-methylprednisolone) was studied with the culture of Mycobacterium globiforme. The metabolites and inhibitors of the respiration chain were found to stimulate the 20 beta-reduction of a steroid molecule. The inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, 2,4-dinitrophenol, inhibited the reduction of the 20-keto group in a steroid.

[Regulation of 1-dehydrogenation and 20 beta-reduction of ketosteroids by microorganisms]. / Reguliatsiia mikrobiologicheskikh protsessov: 1-degidrogenirovaniia i 20 beta-vosstanovleniia ketosteroidov

Regulation of two microbiological processes--1-dehydrogenation and 20 beta-reduction of ketosteroids--was studied using several exogeneous quinones which (a) stimulated 1-dehydrogenation and (b) inhibited the accompanying reaction, the reduction of 20-ketogroup of the steroid molecule. The least active compounds were benzoquinones. The best regulators are 1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone, and 7-methoxy-1,2-naphthoquinone. Possible mechanism of the action of naphthoquinones on Mycobacterium globiforme is discussed.