Comprehensive review of steroid metabolism in Comamonas testosteroni TA441 with insights from other aerobic steroid-degrading bacteria

Comamonas testosteroni TA441 is a model bacterium for aerobic steroid degradation. This review summarizes its steroid degradation pathways, including the genetic organization and enzymatic mechanisms involved in C17-side chain degradation, A,B-ring cleavage, and β-oxidation of B,C,D-rings. Comparative insights from other aerobic steroid-degrading bacteria highlight the evolutionary conservation of key enzymes. Understanding these pathways provides crucial insights into microbial steroid metabolism and its environmental significance.