The Biochemistry of Inorganic Polyphosphates

Foreword to the First Edition. Preface. Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1 The Chemical Structures and Properties of Condensed Inorganic Phosphates. 1.1 The Structures of Condensed Phosphates. 1.2 Some Chemical Properties of Condensed Inorganic Polyphosphates. 1.3 Physico-Chemical Properties of Condensed Inorganic Polyphosphates. 2 Methods of Polyphosphate Assay in Biological Materials. 2.1 Methods of Extraction from Biological Materials. 2.2 Chromatographic Methods. 2.3 Colorimetric and Fluorimetric Methods. 2.4 Cytochemical Methods. 2.5 X-Ray Energy Dispersive Analysis. 2.6 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. 2.7 Other Physical Methods. 2.8 Gel Electrophoresis. 2.9 Enzymatic Methods. 3 The Occurrence of Polyphosphates in Living Organisms. 4 The Forms in which Polyphosphates are Present in Cells. 4.1 Polyphosphate-Cation Complexes. 4.2 Polyphosphate-Ca2+-Polyhydroxybutyrate Complexes. 4.3 Complexes of Polyphosphates with Nucleic Acids. 4.4 Binding of Polyphosphates with Proteins. 5 Localization of Polyphosphates in Cells of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes. 5.1 Prokaryotes. 5.2 Eukaryotes. 6 Enzymes of Polyphosphate Biosynthesis and Degradation. 6.1 Enzymes of Polyphosphate Biosynthesis. 6.2 Enzymes of Polyphosphate Degradation. 7 The Functions of Polyphosphates and Polyphosphate-Dependent Enzymes. 7.1 Phosphate Reserve. 7.2 Energy Source. 7.3 Cations Sequestration and Storage. 7.4 Participation in Membrane Transport. 7.5 Cell Envelope Formation and Function. 7.6 Regulation of Enzyme Activities. 7.7 Gene Activity Control, Development and Stress Response. 7.8 The Functions of Polyphosphates in Higher Eukaryotes. 8 The Peculiarities of Polyphosphate Metabolism in Different Organisms. 8.1 Escherichia coli. 8.2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 8.3 Acinetobacter. 8.4 Aerobacter aerogenes (Klebsiella aerogenes). 8.5 Azotobacter. 8.6 Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) and other Photosynthetic Bacteria. 8.7 Mycobacteria and Corynebacteria. 8.8 Propionibacteria. 8.9 Archae. 8.10 Yeast. 8.11 Other Fungi (Mould and Mushrooms). 8.12 Algae. 8.13 Protozoa. 8.14 Higher Plants. 8.15 Animals. 9 Applied Aspects of Polyphosphate Biochemistry. 9.1 Bioremediation of the Environment. 9.2 Polyphosphates and Polyphosphate-Metabolizing Enzymes in Assay and Synthesis. 9.3 Polyphosphates in Medicine. 9.4 Polyphosphates in Agriculture. 9.5 Polyphosphates in the Food Industry. 10 Inorganic Polyphosphates in Chemical and Biological Evolution. 10.1 Abiogenic Synthesis of Polyphosphates and Pyrophosphate. 10.2 Phosphorus Compounds in Chemical Evolution. 10.3 Polyphosphates and Pyrophosphates: Fossil Biochemical Reactions and the Course of Bioenergetic Evolution. 10.4 Changes in the Role of Polyphosphates in Organisms at Different Evolutionary Stages. References. Index of Generic Names. Subject Index.