Identification of 3-ketosteroid 9-alfa-hydroxylase genes and microorganisms blocked in 3-ketosteroid 9-alfa-hydroxylase activity
AssigneeN.V. Organon
InventorsRobert Van Der Geize, Peter Van Der Meijden, Gerda Hessels, Lubbert Dijkhuizen
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Abstract
The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of KshA protein or of KshB protein, encoded by nucleotides 499-1695 of SEQ ID NO:1 or by nucleotides 387-1427 of SEQ ID NO:2, respectively, and functional homologues thereof. The polynucleotides of the invention can be used to construct genetically modified microorganisms blocked in 3-ketosteroid 9α-hydroxylase activity, which are useful in the microbial degradation of steroids to accumulate certain steroid products.
Claims12
1-16. (canceled)
A method of steroid Δ1-dehydrogenation, comprising providing the steroid to a genetically modified microorganism blocked in 3-ketosteroid 9α-hydroxylase activity by inactivation of at least one gene encoding KSH-activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.