The Biochemistry Of Methylotrophs

This book offers a comprehensive examination of the microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and applied aspects of methylotrophsThis book is intended for reference purposes at the professional level and for students at the graduate level. It is hoped that it will provide researchers with not only basic science, but also applied aspects of methylotrophs.

This short book attempts to give a reader who has a basic biochemical and microbiological background (one to two years at University level) an idea of the ecological, biochemical, physiological and biotechnological importance of methane, methanol and related compounds in the microbial world. Because the book covers several different scientific disciplines, readers may encounter unfamiliar terminology. The glossary at the end of the book defines the more obscure of these. The book has been written during a period of heavy teaching commit ments, and despite the helpful comments of many colleagues, it is likely that errors have crept in. As I have no co-author whom I can blame, I must accept sole responsibility for these! I wish to thank the many friends, students and colleagues who have read all or part of the manuscript: Charlie Bamforth, Rick Gibson, Jeff Green, Theo Hansen, Wim Harder, Geoff Haywood and, above all, Hans van Dijken.

Biology of Methylotrophs introduces the reader to the study of methylotrophs - microorganisms that use reduced one-carbon compounds for growth. The book is divided into five parts. Part I covers the taxonomy, morphology, and ultrastructure of methylotrophic bacteria. Part II discusses the processes involved in their growth and metabolism. Part III talks about the possible applications of methylotrophs and their enzymes in industrial fields as well as chemistry. Part IV deals with the molecular genetics and the gene expression of methylotrophs, and Part V deals with their habitat and role in the environment. The text is recommended for microbiologists who would like to be acquainted with the subject or make further studies about methylotrophs.

The field of methylotrophy has experienced a remarkable rejuvenation in recent years and undergone a major transformation in terms of discovery of novel types of methylotrophs, novel modes of methylotrophy and novel metabolic pathways. New questions are being asked and novel approaches are being employed to improve the current understanding of methylotrophy as a metabolic phenomenon.This comprehensive volume is a compilation of articles, some written by established scientists, others by young and upcoming methylotrophy researchers. Under the expert guidance of the editor the authors present the current data and novel outlooks in this diverse area of research, encompassing fundamentals, such as biochemistry, physiology and systematics of methylotrophs, that underpin the field, as well as newly emerging areas, such as laboratory evolution of methylotrophs, enumeration in novel environments e.g. clouds, and experimenting with synthetic methylotrophs and methylotroph communities.The volume covers a huge diversity of topics providing a timely overview of the field. It will be essential reading for everybody working in the field of methylotrophy, from seasoned researchers to newcomers to the field.

Produced by microbes on a large scale, methane is an important alternative fuel as well as a potent greenhouse gas. This volume focuses on microbial methane metabolism, which is central to the global carbon cycle. Both methanotrophy and methanogenesis are covered in detail. Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems, and field measurements. The state of the art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field. Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems, and field measurements The state-of-the-art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field

Methane and its oxidation product, methanol, have occupied an important position in the chemical industry for many years: the former as a feedstock, the latter as a primary chemical from which many products are produced. More recently, the role played by methane as a potent "greenhouse" gas has aroused considerable attention from environmentalists and clima tologists alike. This role for C compounds has, of course, been quite 1 incidental to the myriad of microorganisms on this planet that have adapted their life-styles to take advantage of these readily available am bient sources. Methane, a renewable energy source that will always be with us, is actually a difficult molecule to activate; so any microorganism that can effect this may point the way to catalytic chemists looking for con trollable methane oxidation. Methanol, formed as a breakdown product of plant material, is also ubiquitous and has also encouraged the growth of prokaryotes and eukaryotes alike. In an attempt to give a balanced view of how microorganisms have been able to exploit these simple carbon sources, we have asked a number ofleading scientists (modesty forbids our own inclusion here) to contribute chapters on their specialist areas of the subject.

This comprehensive volume is a compilation of articles, some written by established scientists, others by young and upcoming methylotrophy researchers. Under the expert guidance of the editor the authors present the current data and novel outlooks in this diverse area of research, encompassing fundamentals, such as biochemistry, physiology and systematics of methylotrophs, that underpin the field, as well as newly emerging areas, such as laboratory evolution of methylotrophs, enumeration in novel environments e.g. clouds, and experimenting with synthetic methylotrophs and methylotroph communit.

Produced by microbes on a large scale, methane is an important alternative fuel as well as a potent greenhouse gas. This volume focuses on microbial methane metabolism, which is central to the global carbon cycle. Both methanotrophy and methanogenesis are covered in detail. Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems, and field measurements. The state of the art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field. Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems and field measurements The state-of-the-art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field