Chiral inversion of 2-arylpropionyl-CoA esters by human α-methylacyl-CoA racemase 1A (P504S)--a potential mechanism for the anti-cancer effects of ibuprofen.

Metabolic chiral inversion of 2-arylpropanoic acids (2-APAs;'profens'), such as ibuprofen, is important for pharmacological activity. Several 2-APA-CoA esters were good racemisation substrates for human AMACR 1A, suggesting a common chiral inversion pathway for all 2-APAs and an additional mechanism for their anti-cancer properties.