Microbial natural products have been an important traditional source of valuable antibiotics and other drugs but interest in them waned in the 1990s when big pharma decided that their discovery was no longer cost-effective and concentrated instead on synthetic chemistry as a source of novel compounds, often with disappointing results. Moreover understanding the biosynthesis of complex natural products was frustratingly difficult. With the development of molecular genetic methods to isolate and manipulate the complex microbial enzymes that make natural products, unexpected chemistry has been revealed and interest in the compounds has again flowered. This two-volume treatment of the subject will showcase the most important chemical classes of complex natural products: the peptides, made by the assembly of short chains of amino acid subunits, and the polyketides, assembled from the joining of small carboxylic acids such as acetate and malonate. In both classes, variation in sub-unit structure, number and chemical modification leads to an almost infinite variety of final structures, accounting for the huge importance of the compounds in nature and medicine. Gathers tried and tested methods and techniques from top players in the field Provides an extremely useful reference for the experienced research scientist Covers biosynthesis of Polyketides, Tarpenoids, Aminocoumarins and Crabohydrates

Microbial natural products have been an important traditional source of valuable antibiotics and other drugs but interest in them waned in the 1990s when big pharma decided that their discovery was no longer cost-effective and concentrated instead on synthetic chemistry as a source of novel compounds, often with disappointing results. Moreover understanding the biosynthesis of complex natural products was frustratingly difficult. With the development of molecular genetic methods to isolate and manipulate the complex microbial enzymes that make natural products, unexpected chemistry has been revealed and interest in the compounds has again flowered. This two-volume treatment of the subject will showcase the most important chemical classes of complex natural products: the peptides, made by the assembly of short chains of amino acid subunits, and the polyketides, assembled from the joining of small carboxylic acids such as acetate and malonate. In both classes, variation in sub-unit structure, number and chemical modification leads to an almost infinite variety of final structures, accounting for the huge importance of the compounds in nature and medicine.

This new volume of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial by containing quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. The second of 3 volumes covering Natural product biosynthesis by microorganisms and plants. - This new volume continues the legacy of this premier serial - Contains quality chapters authored by leaders in the field - The second of 3 volumes it has chapters on such topics as biological chlorination, bromination and iodination, and phylogenetic approaches to natural product structure prediction

This new volume of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial by containing quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. The first of 3 volumes covering Natural product biosynthesis by microorganisms and plants, it has chapters on such topics as Kinetics of plant sesquiterpene synthases, Terpenoid biosynthesis in fungi, and plant Type III polyketide synthases. - Contains quality chapters authored by leaders in the field - The first of 3 volumes - Has chapters on such topics as kinetics of plant sesquiterpene synthases, terpenoid biosynthesis in fungi, and plant Type III polyketide synthases

This new volume of Methods in Enzymology continues the legacy of this premier serial by containing quality chapters authored by leaders in the field. The third of 3 volumes covering Natural product biosynthesis by microorganisms and plants. - This new volume continues the legacy of this premier serial - Contains quality chapters authored by leaders in the field - The third of 3 volumes, it has chapters on such topics as metabolic pathways in Aspergillus oryzae, heterologous gene clusters and cyanobacteria as a source of natural products

Annotation This volume of 'Methods in Enzymology' continues the legacy of this premier serial by containing quality chapters authored by leaders in the field.

Produced by microbes on a large scale, methane is an important alternative fuel as well as a potent greenhouse gas. This volume focuses on microbial methane metabolism, which is central to the global carbon cycle. Both methanotrophy and methanogenesis are covered in detail. Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems, and field measurements. The state of the art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field. - Topics include isolation and classification of microorganisms, metagenomics approaches, biochemistry of key metabolic enzymes, gene regulation and genetic systems and field measurements - The state-of-the-art techniques described here will both guide researchers in specific pursuits and educate the wider scientific community about this exciting and rapidly developing field