This collection of reviews describes current knowledge of the enzyme mechanisms involved in the biodegradation of wood and wood components, cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin by both fungi and bacteria. The knowledge presented in this volume was developed in laboratories world-wide since the 1970s and constitutes the foundation for present and future biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry.

Isolated enzymes are known as useful for synthesising of complex molecules with more and more large scale applications in recent years. These six reviews show different steps in the development of enzymatic syntheses for useful compounds. Screening of novel enzymes, their biochemical characterisation as well as reaction engineering approaches in order to increase their performance are treated in three papers. Then the use of protein design as a tool for the directed improvement of reactivity and selectivity of biocatalysts is described in two reviews. The supply of sufficient quantities of...

C. Tollnick, G. Seidel, M. Beyer, K. Schugerl: Inverstigations of the Production of Cephalosporin C by Acremonium chrysogenum.- K. Friehs: Plasmid Copy Number and Plasmid Stability.- P.S.J. Cheetham: Bioprocesses for the Manufacture of Ingredients for Foods and Cosmetics.- I. Roy, S. Sharma, M.N.

The immobilized biocatalyst (IMB) is a key component of biotransformation systems that are used to transform substrates to desired products. The impro- ment of biocatalyst properties has a direct influence on the overall effectiveness of the process based on the biotransformation. The basic catalytic characte- stics of biocatalyst that are followed include kinetic properties, pH optima, stability, and inhibition. The investigation of catalytic properties of immobilized enzymes is still a time consuming procedure and is not always simple. In the 1980s, a major effort was made to standardize...

Today, ergot alkaloids have found widespread clinical use and more than 50 formulations contain natural or semisynthetic ergot alkaloids. They are used in the treatment of uterine atonia, postpartum bleeding, migraine, orthostatic circulatory disturbances, senile cerebral insufficiency, hypertension, hyp- prolactinemia, acromegaly, and Parkinsonism. Recently, new therapeutic - plications have emerged, e.g., against schizophrenia and for therapeutic usage based on newly discovered antibacterial and cytostatic effects, immunomodu- tory and hypolipemic activity.The broad physiological effects of...