Formation of delta 2-and delta 3-cholenoic acids from bile acid 3-sulfates by a human intestinal Fusobacterium strain

J Robben, G Janssen, R Merckx… - Applied and …, 1989 - Am Soc Microbiol
J Robben, G Janssen, R Merckx, H Eyssen
Applied and environmental microbiology, 1989Am Soc Microbiol
We isolated two strains of an unnamed Fusobacterium species from human intestinal
microflora, which stereospecifically transformed bile acid 3-sulfates into C-3-unsubstituted,
ring A-unsaturated bile acids. Both 3 alpha-and 3 beta-sulfates of 5 beta-bile acids were
metabolized to delta 3-5 beta-cholenoic acids; 3 beta-sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were
converted into a mixture of delta 2-5 alpha-bile acids and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-bile
acids, whereas 3 alpha-sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were left intact. Unsulfated bile acids …
We isolated two strains of an unnamed Fusobacterium species from human intestinal microflora, which stereospecifically transformed bile acid 3-sulfates into C-3-unsubstituted, ring A-unsaturated bile acids. Both 3 alpha- and 3 beta-sulfates of 5 beta-bile acids were metabolized to delta 3-5 beta-cholenoic acids; 3 beta-sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were converted into a mixture of delta 2-5 alpha-bile acids and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-bile acids, whereas 3 alpha-sulfates of 5 alpha-bile acids were left intact. Unsulfated bile acids were not transformed into unsaturated derivatives. These strains differ from previously isolated intestinal bacteria, which desulfated bile acid sulfates without further transformation.
American Society for Microbiology