Characterization of metabolites formed during the biotransformation of 17α-ethinylestradiol by Nitrosomonas europaea in batch and continuous flow bioreactors

The biotransformation of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) by an ammonia oxidizing bacteria, Nitrosomonas europaea, grown in batch (ammonia-rich) and continuous flow (chemostat, ammonia-limited) reactors was investigated. Both C-14 labeled EE2 (10 μg/L) and unlabeled EE2 (1 mg/L) were used to facilitate metabolite identification under environmentally relevant physiological conditions. Whole cell ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) activity was not inhibited at the EE2 concentrations used in this study. Characterization of the primary metabolite formed during batch cultivation by liquid chromatography/iontrap mass spectrometry (LC-ITMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed modification at the ethinyl group and addition of a carboxyl group. This metabolite (M386) (revealed by m/z 385 in negative mode electrospray LC/MS) was not formed in the abiotic control. In contrast, biotransformation of EE2 under continuous flow conditions showed formation of a monohydroxylated EE2 (revealed by m/z 311), but not M386. Furthermore, nitrated EE2 derivatives were formed in both batch and continuous flow cultures, as a result of abiotic transformation of EE2 in the presence of high concentrations of nitrite in the bioreactors. Results from this study underscore the importance of physiological state and growth conditions as critical variables that can dictate the metabolic pathway for EE2 biodegradation and the nature of byproducts formed.