Abstract
Sebek, Oldrich K. (The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.), Lester M. Reineke, and Durey H. Peterson. Intermediates in the metabolism of steroids by Penicillium lilacinum. J. Bacteriol. 83:1327-1331. 1962-Nonproliferating cells of Penicillium lilacinum (Thom) metabolized progesterone successively to 20-beta-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, testosterone, androstenedione, and testololactone. Testosterone and androstenedione were readily interconvertible. 11-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone was transformed in an analogous way and its intermediate, 11-alpha, 20-beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, was isolated and identified by a combination of microbiological and chemical methods.