Research Projects

The study revealed the effect of various organic solvents (water miscible and immiscible) emulsifiers (natural and synthetic), flours of different seeds (soy bean, corn and cotton seed), protein isolates (soy protein and casein) and different vegetable oils on selected bioconversion reactions. Coconversion of AD to ADD was studied by using Delftia acidovorance MTCC 3364 and bioconversion of phytosterols to 9-hydroxy-AD was studied by using Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B8119. This is the first report on use of D. acidovorans MTCC 3364 for ?1 dehydrogenation of AD. The present work has been successful in delineating potential solvents (1, 4 Dioxan, Methylene chloride) and vegetable oils (Sunflower oil and Soybean oil), which can increase the productivity of the organisms for enhanced production of steroid drugs and drug intermediates. For bioconversion of AD, 1, 4 dioxane and methylene chloride showed enhanced accumulation of product ADD. For both AD and phytosterols bioconversions, sunflower and soybean oil showed enhanced degree of bioconversion.