Ebook: Biochemistry of microbial degradation

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.

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This book brings together a number of comprehensive accounts of the mechanisms whereby microorganisms are able to degrade a wide variety of compounds. These compounds range from petroleum-derived materials, which continue to predominate in questions of environmental contamination and pollution, to the degradation of the major natural materials that microorganisms may encounter in all types of habitat. Both aerobic and anaerobic modes of attack are covered. The emphasis in all the chapters is upon the underlying biochemical pathways that microorganisms use: differences between bacteria, yeasts and moulds are highlighted whenever opportune and uses of microbial consortia for attack on the most recalcitrant molecules is also well documented. Activity of microorganisms in the soil, groundwater and marine environments are all dealt with here.
The book will be of value and interest to all whose work brings them into direct or even indirect contact with the results of microbial degradations. The consequences of microbial degradations may be beneficial as well as deletrious: an advantage with some compounds, a decided disadvantage with others. The basis by which microorganisms achieve these attacks then provides the vital knowledge that will accelerate the former and, hopefully, retard the latter.
For the first time the pathways of microbial degradations of all major classes of compounds are covered in a single volume. The diversity of microbial activities are clearly described and current advances in the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, enzyme chemistry and engineering feature in almost every chapter.

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This book brings together a number of comprehensive accounts of the mechanisms whereby microorganisms are able to degrade a wide variety of compounds. These compounds range from petroleum-derived materials, which continue to predominate in questions of environmental contamination and pollution, to the degradation of the major natural materials that microorganisms may encounter in all types of habitat. Both aerobic and anaerobic modes of attack are covered. The emphasis in all the chapters is upon the underlying biochemical pathways that microorganisms use: differences between bacteria, yeasts and moulds are highlighted whenever opportune and uses of microbial consortia for attack on the most recalcitrant molecules is also well documented. Activity of microorganisms in the soil, groundwater and marine environments are all dealt with here.
The book will be of value and interest to all whose work brings them into direct or even indirect contact with the results of microbial degradations. The consequences of microbial degradations may be beneficial as well as deletrious: an advantage with some compounds, a decided disadvantage with others. The basis by which microorganisms achieve these attacks then provides the vital knowledge that will accelerate the former and, hopefully, retard the latter.
For the first time the pathways of microbial degradations of all major classes of compounds are covered in a single volume. The diversity of microbial activities are clearly described and current advances in the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, enzyme chemistry and engineering feature in almost every chapter.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Biodegradation of components of petroleum....Pages 1-31
Microbial metabolism and transformation of selected monoterpenes....Pages 33-61
Formation and function of biosurfactants for degradation of water-insoluble substrates....Pages 63-87
Biodegradation of oils, fats and fatty acids....Pages 89-141
Biodegradation of anionic surfactants and related molecules....Pages 143-177
Biochemistry and physiology of the degradation of nitrilotriacetic acid and other metal complexing agents....Pages 179-195
Enzymes and mechanisms involved in microbial cellulolysis....Pages 197-231
Biodegradation of lignin and hemicelluloses....Pages 233-277
Physiology of microbial degradation of chitin and chitosan....Pages 279-312
Biodegradation of starch and ?-glycan polymers....Pages 313-346
The physiology of aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria....Pages 347-378
Microbial dehalogenation of haloaliphatic compounds....Pages 379-421
Biodegradation of halogenated aromatic compounds....Pages 423-458
Bacterial degradation of N-heterocyclic compounds....Pages 459-486
Biodegradation of inorganic nitrogen compounds....Pages 487-512
Biochemistry of anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds....Pages 513-553
Biocorrosion: the action of sulphate-reducing bacteria....Pages 555-570
Back Matter....Pages 571-590

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This book brings together a number of comprehensive accounts of the mechanisms whereby microorganisms are able to degrade a wide variety of compounds. These compounds range from petroleum-derived materials, which continue to predominate in questions of environmental contamination and pollution, to the degradation of the major natural materials that microorganisms may encounter in all types of habitat. Both aerobic and anaerobic modes of attack are covered. The emphasis in all the chapters is upon the underlying biochemical pathways that microorganisms use: differences between bacteria, yeasts and moulds are highlighted whenever opportune and uses of microbial consortia for attack on the most recalcitrant molecules is also well documented. Activity of microorganisms in the soil, groundwater and marine environments are all dealt with here.
The book will be of value and interest to all whose work brings them into direct or even indirect contact with the results of microbial degradations. The consequences of microbial degradations may be beneficial as well as deletrious: an advantage with some compounds, a decided disadvantage with others. The basis by which microorganisms achieve these attacks then provides the vital knowledge that will accelerate the former and, hopefully, retard the latter.
For the first time the pathways of microbial degradations of all major classes of compounds are covered in a single volume. The diversity of microbial activities are clearly described and current advances in the applications of biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, enzyme chemistry and engineering feature in almost every chapter.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xix
Biodegradation of components of petroleum....Pages 1-31
Microbial metabolism and transformation of selected monoterpenes....Pages 33-61
Formation and function of biosurfactants for degradation of water-insoluble substrates....Pages 63-87
Biodegradation of oils, fats and fatty acids....Pages 89-141
Biodegradation of anionic surfactants and related molecules....Pages 143-177
Biochemistry and physiology of the degradation of nitrilotriacetic acid and other metal complexing agents....Pages 179-195
Enzymes and mechanisms involved in microbial cellulolysis....Pages 197-231
Biodegradation of lignin and hemicelluloses....Pages 233-277
Physiology of microbial degradation of chitin and chitosan....Pages 279-312
Biodegradation of starch and ?-glycan polymers....Pages 313-346
The physiology of aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria....Pages 347-378
Microbial dehalogenation of haloaliphatic compounds....Pages 379-421
Biodegradation of halogenated aromatic compounds....Pages 423-458
Bacterial degradation of N-heterocyclic compounds....Pages 459-486
Biodegradation of inorganic nitrogen compounds....Pages 487-512
Biochemistry of anaerobic biodegradation of aromatic compounds....Pages 513-553
Biocorrosion: the action of sulphate-reducing bacteria....Pages 555-570
Back Matter....Pages 571-590
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