IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,630,853
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,853 · App. 17/429,198 · Granted May 19, 2026

Biotechnological optimization of microorganisms for the 1,2-dehydrogenation of steroids

Inventors: Claus Tobias Lattemann (Frankfurt, DE); Bernd Janocha (Frankfurt, DE); Hans-Falk Rasser (Frankfurt, DE); Sebastian Rissom (Frankfurt, DE)
Assignee: EUROAPI FRANCE
C12P33/02C12N1/205C12N9/0006C12N9/001C12N15/74C12R2001/365C12Y101/01053C12Y103/99004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,853
App. No.
17/429,198
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention concerns a genetically modified bacterium and to its industrial application, in particular in the 1,2-dehydrogenation of steroids.

Claims (24)

1 . A genetically modified bacterium wherein expression of a gene encoding a 20-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20β-HSDH) is reduced or suppressed compared to a corresponding unmodified bacterium, wherein the corresponding unmodified bacterium has Δ1-dehydrogenase activity and 20-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, and wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH has at least 90% identity to the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

2 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH is inactivated or deleted.

3 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH is mutated.

4 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH is truncated.

5 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is from the family Nocardioidaceae.

6 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the genetically modified bacterium has Δ1-dehydrogenase activity, but has reduced or is devoid of 20-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity compared to the unmodified bacterium.

7 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH is at least 95% identical to the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

8 . The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH comprises the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

9 . A method for production of a genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1 comprising:

a) providing a bacterium which has Δ1-dehydrogenase activity and 20-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity; and

b) inactivating or deleting the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH comprises the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

11 . A method for the production of 1,2-dehydrogenated steroid comprising:

a) providing a steroid which is not 1,2-dehydrogenated;

b) contacting said steroid which is not 1,2-dehydrogenated with a bacterium according to claim 1 or an extract thereof under conditions sufficient to obtain 1,2-dehydrogenated steroid.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the steroid which is not 1,2-dehydrogenated is a corticosteroid.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein said steroid which is not 1,2-dehydrogenated is hydrocortisone and said method is for the production of prednisolone.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises recovering and purifying said 1,2-dehydrogenated steroid.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , which does not comprise a step of elimination of 20 β-dehydrogenated steroid.

16 . The method according to claim 11 , which further comprises formulating the 1,2-dehydrogenated steroid into a pharmaceutical composition.

17 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein said extract has Δ1-dehydrogenase activity.

18 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein said extract is obtained by cell-lysis of the bacterium.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the cell-lysis product is fractionated in order to concentrate Δ1-dehydrogenase activity or to facilitate purification of Δ1-dehydrogenase activity.

20 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the gene encoding a 20β-HSDH comprises the nucleic acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2026
From: LATTEMANN, CLAUS TOBIAS; JANOCHA, BERND; RASSER, HANS-FALK; RISSOM, SEBASTIAN
To: SANOFI
Reel/Frame 073753/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2023
From: SANOFI
To: EUROAPI FRANCE
Reel/Frame 065978/0292 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19305153 · Feb 8, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220136029A1 · May 5, 2022
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