Microbial Physiology


Book Description

The Fourth Edition of Microbial Physiology retains the logical, easy-to-follow organization of the previous editions. An introduction to cell structure and synthesis of cell components is provided, followed by detailed discussions of genetics, metabolism, growth, and regulation for anyone wishing to understand the mechanisms underlying cell survival and growth. This comprehensive reference approaches the subject from a modern molecular genetic perspective, incorporating new insights gained from various genome projects.




Photosynthetic Nitrogen Assimilation and Associated Carbon and Respiratory Metabolism


Book Description

According to many textbooks, carbohydrates are the photosynthesis and mitochondrial respiration fluctuate in a circadian manner in almost every unique final products of plant photosynthesis. However, the photoautotrophic production of organic organism studied. In addition, external triggers and environmental influences necessitate precise and nitrogenous compounds may be just as old, in appropriate re-adjustment of relative flux rates, to evolutionary terms, as carbohydrate synthesis. In the algae and plants of today, the light-driven assimilation prevent excessive swings in energy/resource provision of nitrogen remains a key function, operating and use. This requires integrated control of the alongside and intermeshing with photosynthesis and expression and activity of numerous key enzymes in respiration. Photosynthetic production of reduced photosynthetic and respiratory pathways, in order to carbon and its reoxidation in respiration are necessary co-ordinate carbon partioning and nitrogen assim- ation. to produce both the energy and the carbon skeletons required for the incorporation of inorganic nitrogen This volume has two principal aims. The first is to into amino acids. Conversely, nitrogen assimilation provide a comprehensive account of the very latest developments in our understanding of how green is required to sustain the output of organic carbon cells reductively incorporate nitrate and ammonium and nitrogen. Together, the sugars and amino acids into the organic compounds required for growth.




Nitrogen in the Marine Environment


Book Description

Nitrogen in the Marine Environment provides information pertinent to the many aspects of the nitrogen cycle. This book presents the advances in ocean productivity research, with emphasis on the role of microbes in nitrogen transformations with excursions to higher trophic levels. Organized into 24 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the abundance and distribution of the various forms of nitrogen in a number of estuaries. This text then provides a comparison of the nitrogen cycling of various ecosystems within the marine environment. Other chapters consider chemical distributions and methodology as an aid to those entering the field. This book discusses as well the enzymology of the initial steps of inorganic nitrogen assimilation. The final chapter deals with the philosophy and application of modeling as an investigative method in basic research on nitrogen dynamics in coastal and open-ocean marine environments. This book is a valuable resource for plant biochemists, microbiologists, aquatic ecologists, and bacteriologists.




General Microbiology


Book Description

Welcome to the wonderful world of microbiology! Yay! So. What is microbiology? If we break the word down it translates to "the study of small life," where the small life refers to microorganisms or microbes. But who are the microbes? And how small are they? Generally microbes can be divided in to two categories: the cellular microbes (or organisms) and the acellular microbes (or agents). In the cellular camp we have the bacteria, the archaea, the fungi, and the protists (a bit of a grab bag composed of algae, protozoa, slime molds, and water molds). Cellular microbes can be either unicellular, where one cell is the entire organism, or multicellular, where hundreds, thousands or even billions of cells can make up the entire organism. In the acellular camp we have the viruses and other infectious agents, such as prions and viroids. In this textbook the focus will be on the bacteria and archaea (traditionally known as the "prokaryotes,") and the viruses and other acellular agents.




Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation


Book Description

During the past three decades there has been a large amount of research on biological nitrogen fixation, in part stimulated by increasing world prices of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and environmental concerns. In the last several years, research on plant--microbe interactions, and symbiotic and asymbiotic nitrogen fixation has become truly interdisciplinary in nature, stimulated to some degree by the use of modern genetic techniques. These methodologies have allowed us to make detailed analyses of plant and bacterial genes involved in symbiotic processes and to follow the growth and persistence of the root-nodule bacteria and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soils. Through the efforts of a large number of researchers we now have a better understanding of the ecology of rhizobia, environmental parameters affecting the infection and nodulation process, the nature of specificity, the biochemistry of host plants and microsymbionts, and chemical signalling between symbiotic partners. This volume gives a summary of current research efforts and knowledge in the field of biological nitrogen fixation. Since the research field is diverse in nature, this book presents a collection of papers in the major research area of physiology and metabolism, genetics, evolution, taxonomy, ecology, and international programs.




Biochemistry of microbial degradation


Book Description

Life on the planet depends on microbial activity. The recycling of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, phosphate and all the other elements that constitute living matter are continuously in flux: microorganisms participate in key steps in these processes and without them life would cease within a few short years. The comparatively recent advent of man-made chemicals has now challenged the environment: where degradation does not occur, accumulation must perforce take place. Surprisingly though, even the most recalcitrant of molecules are gradually broken down and very few materials are truly impervious to microbial attack. Microorganisms, by their rapid growth rates, have the most rapid turn-over of their DNA of all living cells. Consequently they can evolve altered genes and therefore produce novel enzymes for handling "foreign" compounds - the xenobiotics - in a manner not seen with such effect in other organisms. Evolution, with the production of micro-organisms able to degrade molecules hitherto intractable to breakdown, is therefore a continuing event. Now, through the agency of genetic manipulation, it is possible to accelerate this process of natural evolution in a very directed manner. The time-scale before a new microorganism emerges that can utilize a recalcitrant molecule has now been considerably shortened by the application of well-understood genetic principles into microbiology. However, before these principles can be successfully used, it is essential that we understand the mechanism by which molecules are degraded, otherwise we shall not know where best to direct these efforts.




Guide to Biochemistry


Book Description

Guide to Biochemistry provides a comprehensive account of the essential aspects of biochemistry. This book discusses a variety of topics, including biological molecules, enzymes, amino acids, nucleic acids, and eukaryotic cellular organizations. Organized into 19 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the construction of macromolecules from building-block molecules. This text then discusses the strengths of some weak acids and bases and explains the interaction of acids and bases involving the transfer of a proton from an acid to a base. Other chapters consider the effectiveness of enzymes, which can be appreciated through the comparison of spontaneous chemical reactions and enzyme-catalyzed reactions. This book discusses as well structure and function of lipids. The final chapter deals with the importance and applications of gene cloning in the fundamental biological research, which lies in the preparation of DNA fragments containing a specific gene. This book is a valuable resource for biochemists and students.




A Molecular Approach To Primary Metabolism In Higher Plants


Book Description

Discusses and explains the major advances that the new technology of applying molecular genetic techniques of modifying carbon and nitrogen in plants has provided, giving insights into its applications for the benefits of agriculture, the environment and man. The text is divided into three sections, the first focusing on primary nitrogen and carbon




Plant Nitrogen


Book Description

Jointly published with INRA, Paris. This book covers all aspects of the transfer of nitrogen from the soil and air to a final resting place in the seed protein of a crop plant. It describes the physiological and molecular mechanisms of ammonium and nitrate transport and assimilation, including symbiotic nitrogen fixation by the Rhizobiacea. Amino acid metabolism and nitrogen traffic during plant growth and development and details of protein biosynthesis in the seeds are also extensively covered. Finally, the effects of the application of nitrogen fertilisers on plant growth, crop yield and the environment are discussed. Written by international experts in their field, Plant Nitrogen is essential reading for all plant biochemists, biotechnologists, molecular biologists and physiologists as well as plant breeders, agricultural engineers, agronomists and phytochemists.




Plant Physiology, Development and Metabolism


Book Description

This textbook is second edition of popular textbook of plant physiology and metabolism. The first edition of this book gained noteworthy acceptance (more than 4.9 Million downloads) among graduate and masters level students and faculty world over, with many Universities recommending it as a preferred reading in their syllabi. The second edition provides up to date and latest information on all the topics covered while also including the basic concepts. The text is supported with clear, easy to understand Figures, Tables, Box items, summaries, perspectives, thought-provoking multiple-choice questions, latest references for further reading, glossary and a detailed subject index. Authors have also added a number of key concepts, discoveries in the form of boxed- items in each chapter. Plant physiology deals with understanding the various processes, functioning, growth, development and survival of plants in normal and stressful conditions. The study involves analysis of the above-stated processes at molecular, sub-cellular, cellular, tissue and plant level in relation with its surrounding environment. Plant physiology is an experimental science, and its concepts are very rapidly changing through applications from chemical biology, cytochemical, fluorometric, biochemical and molecular techniques, and metabolomic and proteomic analysis. Consequently, this branch of modern plant biology has experienced significant generation of new information in most areas. The newer concepts so derived are being also rapidly put into applications in crop physiology. Novel molecules, such nanourea, nitric oxide, gaseous signalling molecules like hydrogen sulphide, are rapidly finding significant applications among crop plants. This textbook, therefore, brings forth an inclusive coverage of the field contained in 35 chapters, divided into five major units. It serves as essential reading material for post-graduate and undergraduate students of botany, plant sciences, plant physiology, agriculture, forestry, ecology, soil science, and environmental sciences. This textbook is also of interest to teachers, researchers, scientists, and policymakers.