[Steroid transforming enzymes in microorganisms. XIII. Relationship between steroid structure and induction of 4-ene-3-oxosteroid: (acceptor)-1-ene-oxidoreductase in Nocardia opaca].

The induction of the 4-ene-3-oxosteroid: (acceptor)-1-ene-oxidoreductase in Nocardia opaca has been shown to be dependent on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic structural features of the steroid molecule, i.g. the nature of the oxygen function in positions 11 and 20 and the presence of the methyl group in position 10 influence the induction of the enzyme drastically. In this connection the metabolism of the steroid inductors being degradated during the induction process has been considered.