Inorganic Polyphosphates, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1999
Biochemistry, Biology, Biotechnology
Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology Series, Vol. 23

Inorganic polyphosphates - polymers of orthophosphate linked by high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds - have been found in apparently all forms of life, from bacteria, yeasts and fungi to higher plants and animals. These polymers, which had been neglected for a long time, have become a fascinating area of research in the last few years. This volume summarizes the present state of knowledge about the metabolism and function of inorganic polyphosphates. In addition, the methods to study these polymers as well as the biotechnological applications of inorganic polyphosphates are described. The 15 chapters of this volume, dealing with different aspects of polyphosphate research, are written by experts in the field. This book represents a valuable source of information not only for researchers working on this subject, but also for scientists interested in fundamental aspects of cell and energy metabolism.

Inorganic Polyphosphate: A Molecule of Many Functions.- Research on Inorganic Polyphospates: The Beginning.- Metabolism and Function of Polyphosphates in Bacteria and Yeast.- Inorganic Polyphosphate in Eukaryotes: Enzymes, Metabolism and Function.- Cyclic Condensed Metaphosphates in Plants and the Possible Correlations Between Inorganic Polyphosphates and Other Compounds.- Polyphosphate Glucokinase.- Cytoplasmic Inorganic Pyrophosphatase.- Polyphospate/Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Ion Channels in Cell Membranes.- Inorganic Polyphosphate Regulates Responses of Escherichia coli to Nutritional Stringencies, Environmental Stresses and Survival in the Stationary Phase.- From Polyphosphates to Bisphosphonates and Their Role in Bone and Calcium Metabolism.- Methods for Investigation of Inorganic Polyphosphates and Polyphosphate-Metabolizing Enzymes.- Definite Enzymatic Assays in Polyphosphate Analysis.- Study of Polyphosphate Metabolism in Intact Cells by 31-P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.- Polyphosphate-Accumulating Bacteria and Enhanced Biological Phosphorous Removal.- Genetic Improvement of Bacteria for Enhanced Biological Removal of Phosphate from Wastewater.-