This book covers the basic structural, thermodynamic and kinetic principles are covered and molecular strategies for the adaptation to high temperatures revealed by structure analysis are delineated. The roles of fluctuations, hydration and internal packing are thoroughly dicussed. Enzymes with a particular industrial importance, the subtilisin-like serine proteases, have been extensively studied by protein engineering. One extensive chapter is devoted to the present state of knowledge concerning structure-function relations and the origin of the their structural stability. Last but not least, computational and experimental approaches for the design of proteins with increased thermal stability based on sequences or 3D structures are present

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 11 THERMOPHILIC HYDROLYTIC ENZYMES (PROTEINASES, AMYLASES) 17 Thermal Stability of Homologous Neutral Metalloendopeptidases in Thermo philic and Mesophilic Bacteria: Structural Considerations M. K. PANGBURN, P. L. LEVY, K. A. WALSH and H. NEURATH 19 The Structure and Stability of Thermolysin L. H. WEAVER, W. R. KESTER, K. F. TEN EYCK and B. W. MATTHEWS 31 Studies of the Inhibition of Thermolysin J. FEDER, N. AUFDERHEIDE and B. S. WILDI 41 Effect of EDTA on the Conformational Stability of Thermolysin A. FONTANA, E. BOCCU and F. M. VERONESE 55 Role of a Sulfhydryl Group in the Structure and Function of Alkaline Proteases from a Thermophilic Actinomycete K. MIZUSAWA and F. YOSHIDA 61 Partial Characterization of a Thermophilic Actinomycete Rennin S. LAXER, A. PINSKY and B. BARTOOV 67 Amylase Activity and Stability at High and Low Temperature Depending on Calcium and other Divalent Cations W. HEINEN and A. M. LAUWERS 77 Role of Calcium Ion in the Thermostability of a-Amylase Produced from Bacillus stearothermophilus K. YUTAN I 91 THERMOPHILIC DEHYDROGENASES 105 Thermophilic Glyceraldehyde-3-P Dehydrogenase R. E. AMELUNXEN and R. SINGLETON JR. 107 Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from an Extreme Thermophile, Thermus aquaticus 121 J. D. HOCKING and J. I. HARRIS Thermal Properties of Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli A. FONTANA, C. GRANDI, E. BOCCU and F. M. VERONESE 135 Comparative Conformational Properties of Thermophilic and Mesophilic 6-Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase F. M. VERONESE, C. GRANDI, E. BOCCU and A.

Protein research is a frontier field in science. Proteins are widely distributed in plants and animals and are the principal constituents of the protoplasm of all cells, and consist essentially of combinations of a-amino acids in peptide linkages. Twenty different amino acids are commonly found in proteins, and serve as enzymes, structural elements, hormones, immunoglobulins, etc., and are involved throughout the body, and in photosynthesis. This book gathers new leading-edge research from throughout the world in this exciting and exploding field of research.

Life has evolved in an extraordinary way to deal with the most extreme physical and chemical conditions. Extremophilic (extreme-loving) organisms have been found in the superheated waters of deep ocean vents or the hypersaline and cold lakes of Antarctica and indeed often require the extreme conditions of their habitat to survive and thrive. The cellular machinery of extremophiles has developed unique adaptation strategies to effectively function in their given environment. Much scientific attention has focussed on the adaptation of proteins as they have both structural and catalytic functions and hence play key roles in all cellular processes. Moreover, their ability to perform in or withstand extreme physical and chemical conditions has made extremophilic proteins attractive bio-catalysts for a range of industrial and biotechnological applications. This novel and significant book comprehensively summarises our current understanding regarding the structure-function-stability relationship of extremophilic proteins. Leading experts in the field extensively review and comment on the adaptation of proteins to the whole spectrum of physical and chemical extremes. This book represents an important and indispensable reference for students, teachers and researchers with interest or activities in the fascinating area of extremophiles.

Thermophilic Bacteria is a comprehensive volume that describes all major bacterial groups that can grow above 60-65°C (excluding the Archaea). Over 60 different species of aerobic and anaerobic thermophilic bacteria are covered. Isolation, growth methods, characterization and identification, ecology, metabolism, and enzymology of thermophilic bacteria are examined in detail, and an extensive compilation of recent biotechnological applications and the properties of many thermostable enzymes are also included. Major topics discussed in the book include a general review on thermophilic bacteria and archaea; heterotropic bacilli; the genus Thermus; new and rare genera of aerobic heterophophs, such as Saccharococcus, Rhodothermus, and Scotohermus; aerobic chemolithoautotrophic thermophilic bacteria; obligately anaerobic thermophilic bacteria; and hyperthermophilic Thermotogales and thermophilic phototrophs. Extensive bibliographies are also provided for each chapter. The vast amount of information packed into this one volume makes it essential for all microbiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and students interested in the expanding field of thermophilicity. Biotechnologists will find the book useful as a source of information on thermophiles or thermostable enzymes of possible industrial use.

Interest in the study of life in hot environments, both with respect to the inhabiting microorganisms and the enzymes they produce, is currently very high. The biological mechanisms responsible for the resistance to high temperatures are not yet fully understood, whereas thermostability is a highly required feature for industrial applications. In this e-book, the invited authors provide diverse evidence contributing to the understanding of such mechanisms and the unlocking of the biotechnological potential of thermophiles and thermozymes.

The existence of life at high temperatures is quiet fascinating. At elevated temperatures, only microorganisms are capable of growth and survival. Many thermophilic microbial genera have been isolated from man-made (washing machines, factory effluents, waste streams and acid mine effluents) and natural (volcanic areas, geothermal areas, terrestrial hot springs, submarine hydrothermal vents, geothermally heated oil reserves and oil wells, sun-heated litter and soils/sediments) thermal habitats throughout the world. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches have been employed for understanding the diversity of microbes in hot environments. Interest in their diversity, ecology, and physiology has increased enormously during the past few decades as indicated by the deliberations in international conferences on extremophiles and thermophiles held every alternate year and papers published in journals such as Extremophiles. Thermophilic moulds and bacteria have been extensively studied in plant biomass bioconversion processes as sources of industrial enzymes and as gene donors. In the development of third generation biofuels such as bioethanol, thermophilic fungal and bacterial enzymes are of particular interest. The book is aimed at bringing together scattered up-to-date information on various aspects of thermophiles such as the diversity of thermophiles and viruses of thermophiles, their potential roles in pollution control and bioremediation, and composting.