Lipids in Plants and Microbes

ISBN-13: 9780045740222 / Angielski / Miękka / 1984 / 162 str.

John L. Harwood; J. Harwood

Opis

This short text is designed to provide basic information about plant and microbial lipids not only for scientists working in the microbiological and plant fields, but for anyone wanting a concise introduction to this aspect of lipid biochemistry. We have long been aware that standard biochemistry books tend to. concentrate (sometimes exclusively) on animal lipids, thus neglecting many of the important and special features of other organisms. It is not our intention that the book should be comprehensive and we have not, for instance, provided complete lists of lipid compositions of all plants and bacterial species; a number of excellent specialist texts exist and many of these are listed for further reading. Instead we have sought to provide sufficient information for an advanced undergraduate or a research student to give them a 'feel' for the subject. By a combination of generalisation and the use of examples of special interest we hope the book will whet the appetite of the reader so that, by their own research, they are stimulated to discover and, perhaps, answer some of the fascinating questions concerning plant and microbial lipids. We trust that we shall succeed in these aims, even if that will mean more competition for research funds in our own fields J. L. HARWOOD N. J. RUSSELL November 1983 Acknowledgements Our research careers have been devoted to a study of lipids: we have no regrets and are happy to acknowledge Professors J. N.

Spis treści

1 Introduction.- 1A General remarks.- 1B Classification of organisms.- 1C Lipid nomenclature.- 2 Major Lipid Types in Plants and Micro-Organisms.- 2A Fatty acids.- 2B Acyl lipids.- 2C Terpenoids.- 2D Sterols.- 2E Other lipid types.- 2F Ether lipids.- 3 Distribution of Lipids.- 3A Lipid distributions in different organisms and their use in taxonomy.- 3B Subcellular distribution of lipids.- 3C Intramembrane lipid distribution.- 3D Subcellular fractionation and membrane isolation.- 3E Factors affecting the lipid composition of plants and microorganisms.- 4 Biosynthesis.- 4A Fatty acids.- 4B Acyl lipids.- 4C Terpenoids and steroids.- 4D Complex lipids.- 4E Ether lipids.- 5 Degradation.- 5A Degradation of acyl lipids.- 5B Oxidation of fatty acids.- 6 Lipid Functions.- 6A Membrane structure and function.- 6B Storage.- 6C Microbial lipids as virulence factors.- 6D Conclusion.- Further reading.