Cortodoxone, also known as cortexolone or 11-deoxycortisol, is a steroid

Steroid

A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...

 that can be oxygenated to cortisol

Cortisol

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis; suppress the immune system; and aid in fat,...

 (hydrocortisone). It was first synthesized by Tadeusz Reichstein.

On April 5, 1952, biochemist

Biochemist

Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...

 Durey Peterson and microbiologist

Microbiologist

A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...

 Herbert Murray at Upjohn

Upjohn

The Upjohn Company was a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm founded in 1886 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Dr. William E. Upjohn, an 1875 graduate of the University of Michigan medical school. The company was originally formed to make friable pills, which were specifically designed to be easily digested...

 published the first report of a breakthrough fermentation

Industrial fermentation

Industrial fermentation is the intentional use of fermentation by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to make products useful to humans. Fermented products have applications as food as well as in general industry.- Food fermentation :...

 process for the microbial 11α-oxygenation of steroids (e.g. progesterone

Progesterone

Progesterone also known as P4 is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis of humans and other species...

) in a single step by common mold

Mold

Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...

s of the order Mucorales

Mucorales

The Mucorales is the largest and best studied order of Zygomycete fungi. Members of this order are sometimes called pin molds.-Systematics:...

.

11α-oxygenation of cortodoxone produces 11α-hydrocortisone, which can be chemically oxidized to cortisone

Cortisone

Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...

, or converted by further chemical steps to cortisol.

Subsequent fermentation processes for the microbial 11β-oxygenation of steroids in a single step were developed that could convert cortodoxone directly to cortisol.

Cortodoxone functions as a mineralocorticoid

Mineralocorticoid

Mineralocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones characterised by their similarity to aldosterone and their influence on salt and water balances.-Physiology:...

, though is less potent than cortisol. It can be synthesized from 17-hydroxyprogesterone

17-Hydroxyprogesterone

17-Hydroxyprogesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone produced during the synthesis of glucocorticoids and sex steroids.As a hormone, 17OHP also interacts with the progesterone receptor.-Production:...

. In 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency, cortodoxone levels increase dramatically, causing hypertension (as opposed to 21-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency, in which patients have hypotension from a lack of mineralocorticoids).