Ebook: Yeast Biotechnology: Diversity and Applications

I belie ve that the book would provide an overview of the recent developments in the domain of yeast research with some new ideas, which could serve as an inspiration and challenge for researchers in this field. Ne w Delhi Prof. Asis Datta Dec. 24, 2007 F ormer Vice-chancellor, JNU Director, NCPGR (New Delhi) Pr eface Yeasts are eukaryotic unicellular microfungi that are widely distributed in the natural environments. Although yeasts are not as ubiquitous as bacteria in the na- ral environments, they have been isolated from terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric environments. Yeast communities have been found in association with plants, a- mals and insects. Several species of yeasts have also been isolated from specialized or extreme environments like those with low water potential (e. g. high sugar/salt concentrations), low temperature (e. g. yeasts isolated from Antarctica), and low oxygen availability (e. g. intestinal tracts of animals). Around 1500 species of yeasts belonging to over 100 genera have been described so far. It is estimated that only 1% of the extant yeasts on earth have been described till date. Therefore, global efforts are underway to recover new yeast species from a variety of normal and extreme environments. Yeasts play an important role in food chains, and carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Yeasts can be genetically manipulated by hybridization, mutation, rare m- ing, cytoduction, spheroplast fusion, single chromosomal transfer and transfor- tion using recombinant technology. Yeasts (e. g.

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This book updates the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last couple of decades on yeast research. The yeasts are eukaryotic unicellular microfungi that are widely distributed in the natural environment, and can also be found in more specialized or extreme environments, such as low temperatures, low oxygen availabilities and water potential. Approximately 1500 species of yeasts belonging to over 100 genera have been described so far. Although the vast majority of yeasts are beneficial to human life, only a few are opportunistic human pathogens. Yeasts play an important role in the food chain, and in the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In addition, yeasts (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia pastoris) are now being used to express foreign genes for producing human proteins of pharmaceutical interest.

A landmark in biotechnology was reached in 1996 with the completion of the sequencing of the entire genome of S. cerevisiae and the genome sequencing of three more yeasts (Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neofromans) have recently been completed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has now become a central player in the development of an entirely new approach to biological research – systems biology. The products of modern yeast biotechnology impinges on many commercially important sectors including foods, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes, agriculture and environmental bioremediation.

This book is aimed at bringing together and updating the latest information on the diversity of yeasts under natural and extreme environments, their ecology and adaptations, taxonomy and systematics, physiology and biochemistry, as well as their molecular features and biotechnological applications.

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This book updates the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last couple of decades on yeast research. The yeasts are eukaryotic unicellular microfungi that are widely distributed in the natural environment, and can also be found in more specialized or extreme environments, such as low temperatures, low oxygen availabilities and water potential. Approximately 1500 species of yeasts belonging to over 100 genera have been described so far. Although the vast majority of yeasts are beneficial to human life, only a few are opportunistic human pathogens. Yeasts play an important role in the food chain, and in the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. In addition, yeasts (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hansenula polymorpha, Pichia pastoris) are now being used to express foreign genes for producing human proteins of pharmaceutical interest.

A landmark in biotechnology was reached in 1996 with the completion of the sequencing of the entire genome of S. cerevisiae and the genome sequencing of three more yeasts (Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neofromans) have recently been completed. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has now become a central player in the development of an entirely new approach to biological research – systems biology. The products of modern yeast biotechnology impinges on many commercially important sectors including foods, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes, agriculture and environmental bioremediation.

This book is aimed at bringing together and updating the latest information on the diversity of yeasts under natural and extreme environments, their ecology and adaptations, taxonomy and systematics, physiology and biochemistry, as well as their molecular features and biotechnological applications.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxi
Antarctic Yeasts: Biodiversity and Potential Applications....Pages 3-18
Basidiomycetous Yeasts: Current Status....Pages 19-46
Assimilation of Unusual Carbon Compounds....Pages 47-64
Ecology and Biodiversity of Yeasts with Potential Value in Biotechnology....Pages 65-84
Yeasts Diversity in Fermented Foods and Beverages....Pages 85-111
Utilization of Yeasts in Biological Control Programs....Pages 113-134
Opportunistic Pathogenic Yeasts....Pages 135-150
Interaction Between Yeasts and Zinc....Pages 151-168
Glutathione Production in Yeast....Pages 169-198
The Fermentative and Aromatic Ability of Kloeckera and Hanseniaspora Yeasts....Pages 199-214
Yeast Genetics and Biotechnological Applications....Pages 215-236
A Wide-Range Integrative Expression Vector (CoMed) System for Yeasts....Pages 237-257
Advances in Gene Expression in Non-Conventional Yeasts....Pages 259-280
A Comparative Study of RNA Polymerase II Transcription Machinery in Yeasts....Pages 281-305
Non-Genetic Engineering Approaches for Isolating and Generating Novel Yeasts for Industrial Applications....Pages 307-320
Yeast Proteome Analysis....Pages 323-355
Yeast Genomics for Bread, Beer, Biology, Bucks and Breath....Pages 357-368
Ethanol Production from Traditional and Emerging Raw Materials....Pages 369-403
Potentiality of Yeasts in the Direct Conversion of Starchy Materials to Ethanol and Its Relevance in the New Millennium....Pages 405-432
Thermotolerant Yeasts for Bioethanol Production Using Lignocellulosic Substrates....Pages 433-457
Biotechnological Applications of Dimorphic Yeasts....Pages 459-471
Extracellular Polysaccharides Produced by Yeasts and Yeast-Like Fungi....Pages 473-485
Industrially Important Carbohydrate Degrading Enzymes from Yeasts: Pectinases, Chitinases, and ?-1,3-Glucanases....Pages 489-513
Yeast Acid Phosphatases and Phytases: Production, Characterization and Commercial Prospects....Pages 515-549
Nitrile Metabolizing Yeasts....Pages 551-588
Back Matter....Pages 589-613
....Pages 615-634