The cytosol of the filamentous fungus Cochliobolus lunatus was found to contain binding proteins for testosterone and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione. Both of these steroids were also found to be good exogenous substrates for the constitutive 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, also found in this fungus. We were looking for the possible endogenous substrate. The procedures for isolation and identification of the endogenous steroid molecules in the fungus C. lunatus are described in this paper. The lipids were extracted from the cells and from the growth medium and purified by column and thin-layer chromatography. Analysis of the steroids, isolated from the cells of C. lunatus by gas chromatography and combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, revealed the presence of testosterone and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione. Their structures were confirmed by comparison with the standards on the basis of chromatographic behavior and mass spectra. No such structures were found in the growth medium. Endogenous synthesis of androgens in this fungus was independently confirmed by the detection of radioactively labeled testosterone when the growing cells of C. lunatus were labeled with radioactive precursor molecule [5-3H] mevalonate.
Androstenedione Ascomycota