Metabolism

The Bacteria: A Treatise on Structure and Function, Volume II: Metabolism deals with the gross metabolism of microorganisms in energy liberating reactions and pathways. The book investigates energy-yielding metabolism in bacteria; fermentation; terminal oxidation and its cyclic mechanisms; electron transport; and bacterial photosynthesis and luminescence.
This volume is organized into 11 chapters and begins with a discussion of problems of energy metabolism that apply to all cells and unicellular organisms. The book also explains the biologically available energy released by glycolysis, oxidation, and light to chemical bond transformation and its quantitative relationships to whole cell requirements. The reader is then introduced to the fermentation of carbohydrates and related compounds, particularly the pathways of carbon and the role of hydrogen acceptors in fermentation, along with the decomposition of nitrogenous compounds such as amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines. The remaining chapters focus on the cyclic mechanisms for the synthesis of cellular components and for the yield of energy by oxidation. The breakdown of high molecular weight substances such as polysaccharides and bacterial cell walls is also explained. The chapters discuss as well the mechanisms of electron transport in microbes. The book concludes by exploring the physiological aspects of bacterial luminescence as well as the taxonomy and evolution of luminous bacteria.
This book is a valuable resource for biochemists, microbiologists, bacteriologists, investigators, and students interested in the metabolic processes affecting bacteria.

Contenu

Contributors to Volume II
Preface
Contents of Volume I
Contents of Volume III
Contents of Volume IV

1. Energy-Yielding Metabolism in Bacteria
   I. Metabolism and the Cell
   II. Energy-Yielding Reactions
   III. Energy Growth and Yield
   IV. Energy Excess: Nutrient Limitations
   References
2. Fermentation of Carbohydrates and Related Compounds
   I. Introduction
   II. Methodology
   III. Carbohydrate Fermentation Types
   IV. Organic Acid Fermentations
   References
3. Fermentations of Nitrogenous Organic Compounds
   I. Introduction
   II. Fermentations of Single Nitrogenous Compounds
   III. Fermentations of Pairs of Amino Acids (Stickland Reaction)
   IV. Conclusions
   References
4. Cyclic Mechanisms of Terminal Oxidation
   I. Introduction
   II. Historical Development of Cyclic Mechanisms
   III. Criteria for Establishment of Cyclic Mechanisms
   IV. Criterion of Rates of Reaction Applied to Microorganisms
   V. Rate Studies with Bacteria: Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Escherichia coli
   VI. Carrier Type of Experiments Employing Isotopes
   VII. Noncarrier Type of Experiments Employing Isotopes
   VIII. Quantitative Aspects of the TCA Cycle
   IX. The Criterion of Sequential Induction
   X. The Criterion of Microbial Mutant Analysis of Metabolic Pathways
   XI. Deviations from the TCA Cycle
   XII. General Occurrence of TCA Cycle in Microorganisms: Bacteria, Molds, and Protozoa
   XIII. Alternate Pathways 243
   XIV. Summary and Conclusions
   References
   Suggested Supplementary Reading
5. The Dissimilation of High Molecular Weight Substances
   I. Introduction
   II. Methods of Study
   III. Primary Attack on High Molecular Weight Substances
   IV. Attack on Specific Groups of Substances
   References
6. Survey of Microbial Electron Transport Mechanisms
   I. Introduction
   II. The Respiratory Chain
   III. Subdivision of the Respiratory Chain
   IV. Oxidants of the Respiratory Chain Other Than O2
   V. Catalase and Peroxidase
   VI. Determination of Respiratory Type
   VII. Electron Transport in Fermentation and Oxidation
   VIII. Coupled Oxidative Phosphorylation
   References
7. Cytochrome Systems in Aerobic Electron Transport
   I. The Nature of the Cytochrome Pigments
   II. Nomenclature of the Cytochromes
   III. Methods of Studying the Respiratory Chain Pigments
   IV. Functions of the Cytochromes
   V. The Particulate Nature of the Bacterial Respiratory System
   VI. Oxidative Phosphorylation
   VII. Bacterial Cytochromes
   VIII. Soluble Bacterial Cytochromes
   IX. The Effect of Environmental Factors during Growth on the Cytochrome Content of Bacteria
   X. Summary
   References
8. Cytochrome Systems in Anaerobic Electron Transport
   I. Introduction
   II. General Characteristics of Electron Transport in Anaerobes
   III. Hematin-Protein Components
   IV. Function of Heme Proteins
   V. Conclusions
   References
9. Cytochrome-Independent Electron Transport Enzymes of Bacteria
   I. Introduction
   II. Oxidases for Reduced Pyridine Nucleotides
   III. Flavoprotein Peroxidase
   IV. Diaphorases
   V. Direct Flavoprotein Oxidases
   VI. Dehydrogenase Activities
   VII. Flavoproteins Concerned with Reduction of Nitrate, Nitrite; Hydroxylamine, and Organo-Nitro Compounds
   VIII. Phosphorylation Coupled to Anaerobic Electron Transport
   IX. Significance of Flavoprotein Respiration in Anaerobes and Lactic Acid Bacteria
   References
10. Bacterial Photosynthesis
    I. Introduction
    II. The Chromatophore: Center of Bacterial Photosynthesis
    III. A General Formulation of Bacterial Photosynthesis
    IV. Concluding Remarks
    References
11. Bacterial Luminescence
    I. Introduction
    II. Chemistry of Bacterial Luminescence
    III. Physiology of Luminous Bacteria
    IV. Taxonomy and Evolution
    References
    Author Index
    Subject Index