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Genetics and Regulation of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria This book is
the second volume of a seven-volume series, which covers all fields
of research related to nitrogen fixation - from basic studies
through applied aspects to environmental impacts. Volume II
provides a comprehensive and detailed source of information
concerning the genetics and regulation of biological nitrogen
fixation in free-living prokaryotes. This preface attempts to
provide the reader with some insight into how this volume
originated, how it was planned, and then how it developed over the
several years of its production. Once the editorial team was
established, the first job was to decide which of the many
free-living diazotrophs that have been subjected to genetic
analysis should be included in this volume. Would we need to
develop specific criteria for selection or would the organisms, in
effect, select themselves? Of course, Klebsiella pneumoniae and
Azotobacter vinelandii, which have served (and still serve) as the
main model organisms for the genetic analysis of diazotrophy, plus
some of the other bacteria described in this volume, did indeed
select themselves. However, there was considerable discussion
surrounding well-characterized fixing species, like Azorhizobium
caulinodans and Herbaspirillum seropedicae, both of which are able
to fix atmospheric N under free-living conditions.
This book provides a comprehensive and detailed source of
information on the genetic and regulatory aspects of biological
nitrogen fixation in free-living (non-symbiotic) prokaryotes.
Biological nitrogen fixation is represented in a diverse range of
microorganisms, among which Klebsiella pneumoniae serves as a
paradigm for the genetic analysis of diazotrophy, which is the
ability to grow with N2 as sole nitrogen source. The volume uses
two major complementary approaches to the subject matter. The
initial chapters use an organismic-based approach by concentrating
on the well-characterized diazotrophic proteobacteria,
cyanobacteria, Gram-positive clostridia, and Archea. The later
chapters use a comparative process-based approach and serve as
overviews dealing with different regulatory aspects, electron
transport to nitrogenase, and molybdenum metabolism, across the
range of organisms. Whenever appropriate, historical aspects and
agricultural and ecological impacts have been taken into
consideration. Each chapter contains an extensive list of
references. This book is the self-contained second volume of a
comprehensive seven-volume series. No other available work provides
the up-to-date and in-depth coverage of this series and this
volume. This book is intended to serve as an indispensable
reference work for all scientists working in this and closely
related fields, to assist students to enter this challenging area
of research, and to provide science administrators easy access to
vital relevant information.
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