Chapfer 



9 



Microorganisms and 

 Steroid Transformotions' 



By DUREY H. PETERSON 



Throughout history man has depended 

 upon microorganisms for his existence. The entire life 

 cycle relies in one way or another upon the activity of these 

 miniature chemists. In earliest times man learned to enlist 

 the cooperation of tiny forms of life, as in the preparation 

 of certain beverages, bread, and cheese. As technology ad- 

 vanced, many new and important industries based upon 

 the biochemical activities of microorganisms were devel- 

 oped. These developments culminated recently in such 

 prominent achievements as the production of antibiotics 

 and basic chemicals. Although the application of micro- 

 biology to chemical changes has been well recognized in 

 many areas, there was no information available on steroids 

 (formula I) in this respect until 1937, when Mamoli and 



1 The work reported from the laboratories of the Upjohn Company was 

 conducted in cooperation with S. H. Eppstein, P. D. Meister, H. C. 

 Murray, L. M. Reineke, A. Weintraub, and H. Marian Leigh Osbom and 

 under the direction of D. I. Weisblat and R. H. Levin. 

 121 



