Abstract: A process for the production of ergosterol and its intermediate products using recombinant yeasts and plasmids for transformation of yeasts is described.

Abstract: A process for the production of 17.alpha.-hydroxy-3-methoxy-8,14-seco-1,3,5 (10),9(11)estratetraen-14-one by fermentation of 3-methoxy-8,14-seco-1,3,5(10),9(11) -estratetraene-14,17-dione with a live culture of Kloeckera magna is described, which is characterized in that the substrate is reacted in the form of a solventless aqueous suspension with an average grain size of 0.2 to 5 .mu.m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of arabinonucleosides of general formula I ##STR1## in which X represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom,from triacetates of general formula II ##STR2## in which X has the above-mentioned meaning, and the groupsAc respectively mean acetyl groups,which is characterized in that an esterase or lipase is caused to act on these compounds.

Abstract: A process for the production of arabinonucleotides of general formula I ##STR1## in which X represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, is described, which is characterized in that an arabinonucleoside of general formula II ##STR2## in which X has the above-mentioned meaning, is fermented in the presence of an aryl phosphate of general formula III ##STR3## in which Y symbolizes a hydrogen atom or a nitro group andZ symbolizes two hydrogen atoms or two alkali metal atoms,with a microorganism that is capable of phosphorylating nucleosides.

Abstract: A process for the production of dulcitol by fermentative reaction of lactose by galactokinase-negative mutants of genus Kluyveromyces is described, which is characterized in that5 g to 25 g of glucose is added to the fermentation culture after substantial hydrolysis of the lactose per liter orthe fermentation is performed under the conditions of the resting-cell process.

Abstract: A process for the production of 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione of the general formula ##STR1## wherein . . . . . symbolizes a single bond or a double bond, characterized in that ergosterol ##STR2## is fermented with a culture of a microorganism strain capable of side-chain degradation of sterols.

Abstract: A process is claimed for the preparation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione of the general formula ##STR1## wherein symbolizes a single bond or a double bond, characterized by fermenting .alpha.-sitosterol with a culture of a strain of microorganisms capable of side chain degradation of sterols.

Abstract: A process for the production of 4-pregnene-3,20-dione and its derivatives of general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 means a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a methyl group,R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy group, andR.sub.3 and R.sub.4 together symbolize a carbon-carbon bond orR.sub.3 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or an alkanoyloxy group with up to 6 carbon atoms andR.sub.4 means a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, is described, which is characterized in that a pregnane derivative of general formula II ##STR2## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 have the above-mentioned meaning, symbolizes a single bond or a double bond,R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxy group or an alkanoyloxy group with at most 6 carbon atoms andR.sub.6 means a hydrogen atom or an alkanoyl group with at most 6 carbon atoms, is fermented with a bacterial culture of species Mycobacterium spec. NRRL B-3805.

Abstract: A process for the production of ergoline derivatives of general formula I is described ##STR1## in which the bonds represent two single-bonds or a double bond and a single bond.R.sub.1 means a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atomsR.sub.2 symbolizes a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms,R.sub.3 represents a carboxyl group or a grouping of formula--CONR.sub.4 R.sub.5 or --NHCQNR.sub.6 R.sub.7with R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 meaning hydrogen or an alkyl radical with 1-6 carbons atoms optionally substituted by a hydroxy group and R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 meaning an alkyl group containing 1-4 carbon atoms and Q meaning an oxygen or sulfur atom.

Abstract: A process for the production of .beta.-carboline derivatives of general formula I ##STR1## in which X represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom,Y represents a carbon-oxygen bond or a methyl group,R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group with up to 6 carbon atoms andR.sub.2 represents an alkyl group with up to 4 carbon atoms,from 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-.beta.-carboline derivatives of general formula II ##STR2## in which X, Y, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 have the above-mentioned meaning, is described, which is characterized in that the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-.beta.-carboline derivatives are fermented with a fungi culture of genus Fusarium or Myrothecium.

Abstract: 6.alpha.,9.alpha.-difluoro-11.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-4- pregnene-3,20-dione and its derivatives of general formula I ##STR1## wherein symbolizes a single bond or a double bond, andX is H, Br, I or alkanoyloxy with 1-8 carbon atoms, are prepared by a novel process from 3.beta.,17.alpha.-dihydroxy-16.alpha.-methyl-5-pregnen-20-one. The resultant pregnene derivatives are useful as intermediates in the production of flumethasone.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 3-oxo-.DELTA..sup.1,4 -steroid comprises fermenting the corresponding 3-oxo-.DELTA..sup.4 -steroid, saturated in the 1,2-position, witih a living culture of Arthrobacter simplex in the presence of 0.04 g to 0.12 g of cobalt(II) ions per liter of culture broth.

Abstract: A process for the extraction of aromatic (e.g., phenyl-containing) amino acids from an aqueous phase (solution) containing them, comprising combining the aqueous phase with a tenside of the formulaR--U--SO.sub.3 XwhereinR is alkyl or cycloalkyl each of 4-18 carbon atoms; or phenyl or naphthyl, each optionally substituted by alkyl groups, and having up to 18 carbon atoms total.U is a carbon-to-sulfur bond or an oxygen atom, andX is an alkali metal ion;acidifying the aqueous phase to a pH value of 2.0-2.5; andextracting the aqueous phase with an alcohol, a ketone, or a carboxylic acid alkyl ester, each containing 4-6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for preparing 11.beta.,21-dihydroxy-2'-methyl-5'.beta.H-1,4-pregnadieno(16,17-d)-oxazole -3,20-dione, comprises fermenting 11.beta.,21-dihydroxy-2'-methyl-5'.beta.H-4-pregneno (16,17-d)-oxazole-3,20-dione with a living culture of Arthrobacter simplex.

Abstract: Steroids of the formula ##STR1## wherein represents a single or double bond,X is hydrogen, fluorine or methyl;Y is hydrogen, hydroxy or alkanoyloxy of 1-6 carbon atoms;Z is hydrogen or methyl;V is methylene, ethylidene, hydroxymethylene or vinylidene; andR.sub.1 is alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms or alkyl of 2-6 carbon atoms with an oxygen atom between two of the carbon atoms;R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, orR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form a tri- or tetramethylene group provided that Y is hydroxy or alkanoyloxy;have pharmacological activity and are useful as intermediates for preparing other pharmacologically active steroids.

Abstract: In a process for preparing 21-hydroxy-20-methylpregnane derivatives by fermenting a zoosterol or a phytosterol with a culture of Mycobacterium spec. NRRL B-3683 or NRRL B-3805 or a variant or mutant thereof,an improvement comprises conducting the fermentation at a pH value of 6.0-8.0 in the presence of an amount of borate ions or an organic boron compound effective to increase the yield of the 21-hydroxy-20-methylpregnane derivatives produced.

Abstract: Corticoids of the formula ##STR1## wherein represents a single bond or a double bond;X is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine or methyl;Y is hydrogen and Z is hydrogen, fluorine or chlorine, orY and Z together are a carbon-to-carbon bond;V is .beta.-hydroxymethylene, .beta.-chloromethylene or carbonyl;W is methylene, ethylidene or vinylidene;Q is oxygen or sulfur;R.sub.1 is alkyl of 1-8 carbon atoms, alkyl of 2-8 carbon atoms with an oxygen atom between two of the carbon atoms or benzyl, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms, orR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 collectively are trimethylene or tetramethylene; andR.sub.3 is hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, hydroxy, or hydroxy esterified by a C.sub.1-16 hydrocarbon carboxylic acid have valuable pharmacological properties, e.g., anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: The side chains of sterols are degraded by fermentation with microorganisms capable of doing so in an improved manner by employing in such fermentations sterol derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2; R.sub.1 is H or lower alkyl, R.sub.2 is alkyl, whose chain optionally is interrupted by an oxygen atom, or when n is 2, also a hydrogen atom; and R.sub.3 is a sterol side chain.

Abstract: Sterol derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom and R.sub.2 is lower alkoxy, or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 collectively are lower alkylenedioxy and R.sub.3 is a sterol hydrocarbon side chain are converted to the corresponding androsten-17-ones by the oxidative degradation activity of a species of microorganism which degrades sterol side chains, preferably of the genus Mycobacterium. The ether group of those compounds wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom and R.sub.2 is lower alkoxy, and the corresponding 17.beta.-hydroxy and 17.alpha.-hydrocarbon-17.beta.-hydroxy compounds is cleaved by reaction with an alkanoic acid chloride or anhydride in the presence of a Lewis acid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein X is 6,7-methylene or fluoro, chloro, or methyl in the 6- or 7-position, comprises fermenting a sterol of the formula ##STR2## wherein X is as above and R.sub.1 is a hydrocarbon residue of 8-10 carbon atoms with a microorganism culture capable of degrading the side chain of a sterol.