Recent determination of genome sequences for a wide range of bacteria has made in-depth knowledge of prokaryotic metabolic function essential in order to give biochemical, physiological, and ecological meaning to the genomic information. Clearly describing the important metabolic processes that occur in prokaryotes under different conditions and in different environments, this advanced text provides an overview of the key cellular processes that determine bacterial roles in the environment, biotechnology, and human health. Prokaryotic structure is described as well as the means by which nutrients are transported into cells across membranes. Glucose metabolism through glycolysis and the TCA cycle are discussed, as well as other trophic variations found in prokaryotes, including the use of organic compounds, anaerobic fermentation, anaerobic respiratory processes, and photosynthesis. The regulation of metabolism through control of gene expression and control of the activity of enzymes is also covered, as well as survival mechanisms used under starvation conditions.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to bacterial physiology and metabolism; 2. Composition and structure of prokaryotic cells; 3. Membrane transport - nutrient uptake and protein excretion; 4. Glycolysis; 5. Tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation; 6. Biosynthesis and microbial growth; 7. Heterotrophic metabolism on substrates other than glucose; 8. Anaerobic fermentation; 9. Anaerobic respiration; 10. Chemolithotrophy; 11. Photosynthesis; 12. Metabolic regulation; 13. Energy, environment and microbial survival.

About the Author

Byung Hong Kim is a graduate from Kungpook National University, Korea and a Ph.D graduate from Cardiff University. He has been a researcher at universities across the world and has been honoured for his achievements by the Korean gorvernment and the Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology, of which he is now a member. He is also a member of the Korean Microbiological Society and the American Society for Microbiology. Professor Gadd holds a personal chair in microbiology at the University of Dundee and is head of the Division of Environmental and Applied Biology in the School of Life Sciences. He is a highly respected researcher and author worldwide. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Biology, the American Academy of Microbiology and the Linnean Society. He received the Charles Thom award in 2004 from the Society for Industrial Microbiology for his outstanding research contribution to the applied microbiologyical sciences.

Reviews

'Being considered an expert in metabolism can be conferred by being lucky enough to have a copy of Bacterial Metabolism by H. W. Doelle or Gerhard Gottschalk. My copies of these books were published in 1975 and 1986 so the field is no longer crowded. This new book by Byung Hong Kim and Geoff Gadd is therefore timely; it takes our favourite metabolic pathways and presents them clearly and concisely.' Philip Poole, John Innes Centre