Mycobacterium smegmatis synthesizes in vitro androgens and estrogens from different steroid precursors.

Abstract

Fast-growing mycobacteria as Mycobacterium sp and smegmatis degrade natural sterols. They are a model to study tuberculosis. Interestingly, Mycobacterium smeg (M. smeg) have been found in river effluents derived from paper production and therefore it would important to gain further insight in their capacity to synthesize steroids that are potential endocrine disruptors affecting the development and reproduction of fishes. To our knowledge, the capacity of M. smeg to synthesize estrogens and even testosterone had not been reported. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the capacity of M. smeg to synthesize in vitro testosterone and estrogens from tritiated precursors and to investigate the metabolic pathways involved. Results obtained by thin layer chromatography showed that 3H-progesterone was transformed to 17OH-progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, estrone and estradiol after 6, 12 or 24 h of incubation. 3H-androstenedione was transformed to testosterone and estrogens mainly estrone, and 3H-testosterone to estrone and androstenedione. Incubation with 3H-dehydroepiandrosterone rendered androstendiol, testosterone and estrogens. The ability of transforming less potent sex steroids as androstenedione and estrone to other more active like testosterone and estradiol or viceversa suggests that M.smeg influence the amount of self synthesized strong androgens and estrogens and can transform those found in the environment.