Patent ID: 6146844
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: C12P

Abstract:
A method for preparing a hydroxylated cholesterol having the formula (II): ##STR4## in which R.sup.1 is a hydroxyl radical, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are a hydroxyl radical and a hydrogen atom respectively, or a hydrogen atom and a hydroxyl radical respectively, by biological conversion of cholesterol having the formula (I): ##STR5## which method comprises: (A) incubating cholesterol having the formula (I) with a strain of Amycolata or a preparation thereof which is able to biologically convert said cholesterol into the hydroxylated cholesterol having the formula (II), in an atmosphere containing oxygen, to produce an incubation-treated solution, in which (1) the hydroxylated cholesterol is either a compound having the formula (II) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are a hydroxyl radical, and R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom, or a compound having the formula (II) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are a hydroxyl radical, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, and the strain of Amycolata is Amycolata saturnea FERM BP-5544, or (2) the hydroxylated cholesterol is a compound having the formula (II) wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are a hydroxyl radical, and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, and the strain of Amycolata is Amycolata autotrophica ATCC 33796; and(B) recovering the hydroxylated cholesterol from the incubation-treated solution.