Steroids are derivatives of the triterpenoid squalene, containing three fused cyclohexane rings and a cyclopentane ring, and flavonoids are derivatives of L-phenylalanine, containing two aromatic rings joined by a three-carbon bridge that may form part of a heterocyclic ring. A great variety of steroids and flavonoids are produced by plants, and many additional steroids are produced by animals or fungi. Because these compounds have many nutritional and pharmaceutical values, and many of them cannot be produced by chemical synthesis, biotechnological processes are being developed that use cultures of Aspergillus niger and other fungi to transform steroids and flavonoids to a variety of metabolites. These biochemical reactions, including hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, O-methylation, demethylation, cleavage of rings, epoxide hydrolysis, double bond reduction, and others, may be used for the production of higher-value compounds.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology V.176, N 3, P.903-923

Hydroxylation of the Multiple Bond in 1Benzyl-3-methyl-Δ3-piperideine by Micellar Fungi by Cunninghamella verticillata
Cheminform. 2010. V.29. N 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chin.199801033

Aspergillus niger is a well-known fungus that has been used for many different biotransformations of organic compounds. The terpenoids include a large variety of natural hydrocarbons and their derivatives, mostly obtained from plant essential oils, but some obtained from animals or fungi. They may be acyclic or have one or more rings of various sizes, and they show a variety of biological activities that include antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antiviral, and anticancer activities. Terpenoids are classified as monoterpenoids (C10), sesquiterpenoids (C15), diterpenoids (C20), triterpenoids (C30), and others. This review summarizes experimental processes that use cultures of various A. niger strains to carry out stereoselective biochemical reactions in terpenoids, including related epoxides, lactones, N-phenylcarbamates, and saponins, to produce metabolites that may be useful as flavors and fragrances or as new experimental drug candidates. Cultures of A. niger that add hydroxyl, carbonyl, and other groups at specific positions or reduce double bonds have resulted in the production of valuable new compounds.
Process Biochemistry. 2014. V.49. N 12. P. 2086-2100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2014.09.005

Описана микробная трансформация 4-фенилпирролидина растущими культурами грибов.
Cheminform Abstracts. 2010. V. 29. N 1.

A strain of the saprobic fungus Mucor ramannianus, isolated from a forest, was used to demonstrate the potential for ciprofloxacin biotransformation by zygomycetes in the environment. The fungus carried out the regioselective N-acetylation of ciprofloxacin to a single product, which was purified from culture extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography. The metabolite was identified by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry as 1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(4-acetyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid.
FEMS Microbiology Letters. 1999. V.177. N 1. P.131–135.

Монография посвящена методам биотехнологии. В работе описаны примеры применения микробных технологий для получения производных противомалярийных лекарств из ряда азотистых гетероциклов и терпеноидов. Предлагается поиск альтернативных пу¬тей синтеза веществ, которые трудно получить с помощью методов органической химии. Микробные технологии синтеза органических соединений могут найти свое практическое применение в получении различных лекарственных средств. Для научных сотрудников, работающих в области биотехнологии, микробиологии и фармакологии.
ISBN 978-5-905695-04-9 Уфа: Издательство «Инфинити», 2012. – 108 с. УДК 574.24 ББК 28.072 П18