MICROBIAL PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CHOLANIC ACID DERIVATIVES AND MICROBES USED THEREIN

摘要

of the disclosure: The invention relates to a microbial process for producing a cholanic acid derivative of the formula: wherein X is or =O; and R is hydrogen, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. The process comprises cultivating a microbe selected from the genera Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium which is capable of growing in a medium containing cholic acid or a salt thereof as a substrate to produce the cholanic acid derivative in a culture medium containing the substrate, and collecting the resulting derivative. The process operates effectively with mediums varying widely in the concentration of the substrate.