Anaerobic degradation of steroid hormones by novel denitrifying bacteria

Steroids are isoprenoic compounds that occur in multiple forms in nature. One class comprises the steroid hormones derived from cholesterol with estradiol and testosterone as the most important representatives. Concerns about potential negative ecological effects of steroid hormones have resulted in an increased interest with regard to the elimination of these compounds in soil, sediments, and during wastewater treatment. In this project, we address important open questions regarding the anaerobic metabolism of these steroid hormones by denitrifying bacteria. The investigations are conducted with the novel denitrifying bacteria Denitratisoma oestradiolicum and “Steroidobacter denitrificans” that were recently isolated and characterized. The main goals are the identification and characterization of the major degradation intermediates and the enzymes involved in anaerobic steroid degradation.

Contractor

Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (SNF)

Publications

Fahrbach, M., M. Krauss, A. Preiss, H.-P. E. Kohler, J. Hollender. 2010. Anaerobic testosterone degradation in Steroidobacter denitrificans - Identification of transformation products, Env. Poll. 158: 2572-2581.

Fahrbach, M., Kuever, J., Meinke, R., Kämpfer, P. & Hollender, J. (2006). Denitratisoma oestradiolicum gen. nov., sp. nov., a 17β-oestradiol-degrading, denitrifying betaproteobacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56, 1547-1552.

Fahrbach, M. (2006). Anaerobic degradation of steroid hormones by novel denitrifying bacteria. PhD thesis, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Fahrbach, M., J. Kuever, M. Remesch, B.E. Huber, P. Kämpfer, W. Dott, J. Hollender. 2008. Steroidobacter denitrificans gen. nov., sp. nov., a steroidal hormone-degrading gammaproteobacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 58: 2215-2223.