Mechanisms of Adaptation

The Bacteria: Volume VII: Mechanisms of Adaptation explores the mechanisms of bacterial adaptations and covers topics ranging from bacterial spores, cysts, and stalks to nitrogen fixation, bacterial chemotaxis, bacteriophage growth, and the structure and biosynthesis of bacterial cell walls. The roles of appendages and surface layers in adaptation of bacteria to their environment are also considered, along with cell division in Escherichia coli.
This volume is comprised of nine chapters and begins with a discussion on the structure, properties, formation, and regulation of spores, cysts, and stalks in actinomycetes, blue-green bacteria, myxobacteria, Bacillus, Azotobacter, and Caulobacter. The reader is then introduced to the biochemistry, regulation, genetics, and evolution of nitrogen fixing in organisms; the receptors involved in bacterial chemotaxis and the nature of the sensing mechanism; the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria; and bacterial functions involved in nutrient detection and acquisition. The roles played by organelles and surface layers in the adaptation of bacteria to their environment are also examined. The final chapter deals with the regulation of, and coordination between, the multitude of events involved in cell division in Escherichia coli.
This monograph will be a useful resource for microbiologists, bacteriologists, biochemists, and biologists.

Contenu

Contributors to Volume VII
Foreword
Preface
Contents of other Volumes

1. Spores, Cysts, and Stalks
   I. Introduction
   II. The Bacillus Endospore
   III. Actinospores
   IV. Myxospores
   V. Azotobacter Cysts
   VI. Heterocysts and Akinetes of Blue-Green Bacteria
   VII. Caulobacter
   VIII. Summary and Conclusions
   IX. Selected Reviews
   References
2. Nitrogen Fixation
   I. Introduction
   II. Biochemistry
   III. Regulation
   IV. Genetics
   V. N2-Fixing Symbioses
   VI. Nitrogen-Fixing Associations
   VII. Evolution of N2 Fixation
   References
3. Bacterial Chemotaxis
   I. Introduction
   II. The Chemotactic Receptors
   III. The Sensing Mechanism
   IV. Biochemistry of the Sensing System
   V. The Mechanism of Tumbling
   VI . Bacterial Individuality
   VII. Methods
   VIII. Conclusions
   References
4. The Role of the Cell Surface in Regulating the Internal Environment
   I. Introduction
   II. Bacterial Functions Involved in Nutrient Detection and Acquisition
   III. Transmembrane Solute Transport
   IV. Regulation of the Synthesis of Carbohydrate Permeases and Catabolic Enzymes
   V. Regulation of the Activities of Carbohydrate Permeases and Catabolic Enzymes
   VI. Regulation of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur Metabolism in Bacteria
   VII. Concluding Remarks
   References
5. Roles of Appendages and Surface Layers in Adaptation of Bacteria to Their Environment
   I. Flagella and Axial Filaments
   II. Sex (Donor) Pili
   III. Fimbriae
   IV. Cell Walls and Envelopes
   References
6. The Structure and Biosynthesis of Bacterial Cell Walls
   I. Introduction
   II. Reviews of Bacterial Cell Walls
   III. Cell Wall Morphology of Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria
   IV. Bacterial Cell Wall Structure: Definitions of the Cell Wall
   V. Peptidoglycan Structure
   VI. Biosynthesis of Peptidoglycan
   VII. Other Cell Wall Components in Gram-Positive Bacteria
   VIII. Effect of Environment on Cell Wall Composition
   IX. Conclusion
   References
7. The Outer Membrane of Gram-Negative Bacteria
   I. Introduction
   II. General Properties of the Outer Membrane
   III. Phospholipids
   IV. Lipopolysaccharides
   V. Outer Membrane Proteins
   VI. Orientation of Components of the Outer Membrane
   VII. Functions of the Outer Membrane
   VIII. Overall Structure of the Outer Membrane
   IX. Biosynthesis of the Outer Membrane
   X. Conclusion
   References
8. Bacteriophage and Bacteria: Friend and Foe
   I. Introduction
   II. Comments on the Existence of Phage
   III. Some General Characteristics of Bacteriophage Growth
   IV. Specific Examples of Bacteriophage Growth
   V. Conclusions
   References
9. Control of Cell Division in Escherichia Coli
   I. Introduction
   II. (I+C+D) Concept
   III. Initiation of Chromosome Replication
   IV. Plasmids and Chromosome Replication
   V. Chromosome Replication and Segregation
   VI. Cell Division
   References
   Index