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.
Project Cooperators
- Juliane Hollender
- Hans-Peter Kohler (Umik)
- Michael Fahrbach
Contractor
Schweizerischer
Nationalfonds (SNF)
Publications
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.