Main description:

This book assembles concisely written chapters by world-leaders in the field summarizing recent advances in understanding microbial responses to hydrocarbons. Subjects treated include mechanisms of sensing, hydrocarbon tolerance and degradation as well as an overview on hydrophobic modification of biomolecules. Other chapters are dedicated to issues related to the reduced bioavailability of hydrocarbons, which differentiates this class of compounds form many others, but which of central importance to understand the ecophysiological consequences.
This book should be standard literature in any laboratory working in this area.

Contents:

Preface to Volume
Bioinformatic, Molecular and Genetic Tools for Exploring Genome-wide Responses to HydrocarbonsGenomic response of Pseudomonas putida to toluene1. PROBLEMS OF HYDROPHOBICITY, BIOAVAILABILITY Problems of Hydrophobicity/Bioavailability: An IntroductionWater-Hydrophobic Compound Interactions with the Microbial CellMatrix-Hydrophobic Compound InteractionsMicroorganism-Hydrophobic Compound InteractionsBiofilm Development at Interfaces between Hydrophobic Organic Compounds and Water...expandProduction and Roles of Biosurfactants and Bioemulsifiers in Accessing Hydrophobic SubstratesUptake and Assimilation of Hydrophobic Substrates by the Oleaginous Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica2. SENSING, SIGNALING AND UPTAKESensing, Signalizing and Uptake: An IntroductionChemotaxis to hydrocarbonsThe potential of hydrocarbon Chemotaxis to increase bioavailability and biodegradation efficiency Transcriptional regulation of hydrocarbon efflux pump expression Hydrocarbon responsive one-component systems to regulate degradation pathway expression The family of hydrocarbon responsive two-component systems to regulate degradation pathway expression Fatty acids as mediators of intercellular signalling Amphiphilic lipids, signaling molecules and quorum sensingLipids as signalling molecules in eukaryotesSubstrate TransportStrategies to increase bioavailability and uptake of hydrocarbons Fungi as Transport Vectors for Contaminants and Contaminant-Degrading Bacteria..r...expand3. PROBLEMS OF SOLVENTOGENICITY, SOLVENT TOLERANCE Problems of Solventogenicity and solvent Tolerance: An IntroductionToxicity of Hydrocarbons to MicroorganismsGenetics of Accessing and Exploiting HydrocarbonsExtrusion Pumps for Hydrocarbons: An Efficient Evolutionary Strategy to Confer Resistance to HydrocarbonsMembrane Composition and Modifications in Response to Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Gram Negative BacteriaCis-Trans Isomerase of Unsaturated Fatty Acids: An Immediate Bacterial Adaptive Mechanism to Cope with Emerging Membrane Perturbation Caused by Toxic HydrocarbonsSurface Properties and Cellular Energetics of Bacteria in Response to the Presence of HydrocarbonsUltrastructural insights into microbial life at the hydrocarbon:aqueous environment interfaceMembrane adaptations to low water two-phase bioprocess systemsMicrobiology of Oil Fly Larvae4. PROBLEMS OF FEAST OR FAMINE Problems of Feast or Famine: An IntroductionKinetics and Physiology at Vanishingly Small Substrate ConcentrationsFeast: Choking on Acetyl-CoA, the Glyoxylate Shunt, and Acetyl-CoA-Driven MetabolismNitrogen Fixation and Hydrocarbon-Oxidizing Bacteria (ask Julia to extend to P and Fe acquisition)Adaptation to varying substrate concentrations and mixtures5. HYDROPHOBIC MODIFICATIONS OF BIOMOLECULES Hydrophobic Modifications of Biomolecules: An IntroductionProtein lipidation in prokaryotes: biochemistry and functionBacterial signal transduction processes based on acetylationProtein lipidation in eukaryotes: biochemistry and functionLipidation of other biomolecules and functionsBiochemistry of methylation of DNA DNA Methylation in prokaryotes: regulation and functionDNA Methylation in eukaryotes: regulation and functionProtein methylation in bacteria Causes and biochemistry of DNA damage by alkylationMutagenic consequences of alkylationProtein alkylation