During the past twenty years, multitudes of exciting discoveries in the field of anaerobic bacteria have been made. <STRONG>Biochemistry and Physiology of Anaerobic Bacteria explores the full range of these microorganisms. Many anaerobes have been found to have the uniquely fascinating quality of being able to survive, indeed even thrive, in extreme environments. Anaerobic bacteria often do not require oxygen, can survive extremes in temperature, and can withstand the presence of toxins and heavy metals. In addition, these organisms have very different metabolic processes than "conventional" microorganisms. The wide diversity of metabolism in anaerobes is only part of the story. They have distinct energies, cytochromes, electron transport proteins, hydrogenases and dehydrogenases. Their molecular biology, physiology, and ability to use many types of electron receptors (CO2, sulfur, nitrogen and metal oxides) are also extraordinary. With practical applications ranging from wastewater treatment to food storage issues, clinical diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of medical conditions to decontamination of heavy metal exposures <STRONG>Biochemistry and Physiology of Anaerobic Bacteria will prove indispensable to researchers and students alike.
Biochemistry and Physiology of Anaerobic Bacteria
Springer New York Berlin Heidelberg Hong Kong London Milan Paris Tokyo
Lars G. Ljungdahl Michael W. Adams Larry L. Barton James G. Ferry Michael K. Johnson Editors
Biochemistry and Physiology of Anaerobic Bacteria With 71 Illustrations
13
Lars G. Ljungdahl Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 USA
[email protected]
Michael W. Adams Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 USA
[email protected]
Larry L. Barton Department of Biology University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA
[email protected]
James G. Ferry Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16801 USA
[email protected]
Michael K. Johnson Department of Chemistry Center for Metalloenzyme Studies University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 USA
[email protected]
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Biochemistry and physiology of anaerobic bacteria / editors, Lars G. Ljungdahl . . . [et al.]. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-387-95592-5 (alk. paper) 1. Anaerobic bacteria. I. Ljungdahl, Lars G. QR89.5 .B55 2003 579.3¢149—dc21 2002036546 ISBN 0-387-95592-5
Printed on acid-free paper.
© 2003 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms,