Washed cells (62 mg) of Kitasatospora sp. GF12 in 4 ml buffer (pH 7) catalyzed the regioselective hydroxylation of 60 mM 1,3-adamantanediol [1,3-ad(OH)(2)] to 30.9 mM 1,3,5-adamantanetriol [1,3,5-ad(OH)(3)] over 120 h at 24 A degrees C. Glycerol at 400 mM was added to the reaction mixture to recycle the intracellular NADH/NADPH. Whole cells of GF12, also catalyzed the hydroxylation of 10 mM 1-adamantanol (1-adOH), to 3.6 mM 1,3,5-ad(OH)(3).