Microbial Energy Transduction

This is the first book on microbial energetics at this level, presenting an integrated approach to all major aspects of the subject. It is a research level introduction to bacterial bioenergetics, aimed at postgraduates coming to the field and other researchers wishing to acquire specialist knowledge. Each chapter covers the basics of the relevant topic leading to more extensive discussion relating to specialist research interests. Energy transduction is fundamental to all biochemical/physiological processes and therefore of interest to many.

Adenine nucleotides and their role in metabolism. Pathways of glucose metabolism and their atp yields. Energetics of microbial growth. Energy transduction in membranes. Transport processes. Energy conservation in chemoheterotrophic aerobic metabolism. Energy conservation in chemoheterotrophic anaerobic metabolism. Energy conservation in chemolithotrophic bacteria. Energy conservation in bacterial photosynthesis. Microbial energy reserve compounds 145. Energetics of microbial survival.

Transport of molecules across the cell membrane is a fundamental process of all living organisms. It is essential for understanding growth, development, nutrition as well as uptake and excretion of exogenous or synthesized molecules. Microbes respresent general and basic functional systems where many transport processes have been studied on a molecular basis. Knowledge of the microbial transport processes will provide new perspectives to treatments by inhibitors, drugs, antibiotics, vitamins, growth promotion compounds, activators and toxic compunds of various kinds.

This three-part treatment translates the technical language of research monographs on the theory of free energy transfer in biology, making the subject more accessible to those entering the field. Designed for upper-level classes in biochemistry or biophysics, it can also be used for independent study. 36 figures. 1989 edition.