Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Genomic Transformation of the Picoeukaryote Ostreococcus tauri
Published on: July 13, 2012
Microbial transformation of Ibuprofen by a nocardia species
1Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry and Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242.
Abstract:
The carboxylic acid functional group of ibuprofen [alpha-methyl-4-(2-methylpropyl) benzene acetic acid] is reduced to the corresponding alcohol and subsequently esterified to the acetate derivative by cultures of Nocardia species strain NRRL 5646. The alcohol and ester microbial transformation products were isolated, and their structures were determined by H and C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. By derivatization of synthetic and microbiologically produced ibuprofen alcohols with S(+)-O-acetylmandelic acid, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis indicated that the carboxylic acid reductase of Nocardia sp. is R enantioselective, giving alcohol products with an enantiomeric excess of 61.2%. The R enantioselectivity of the carboxylic acid reductase enzyme system was confirmed by using cell extracts together with ATP and NADPH in the reduction of isomeric ibuprofens.
Related Concept Videos
Transformation
Bacterial Transformation
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Microbiota Modulation by Antibiotics
