Archabacteria

Contributors to Volume VIIIContents of Other VolumesIntroduction: Archaebacteria: The Third Form of LifeI. Biochemical Diversity and Ecology of Archaebacteria 1. Methanogenic Bacteria I. Introduction II. Ecology III. Taxonomy IV. Ultrastructure V. Growth Conditions and Nutrition VI. Bioenergetics VII. Carbon Metabolism VIII. Unique Coenzymes IX. Biochemistry of Methane Synthesis X. Oxidation-Reduction Enzymes XI. Genetics References 2. Thermoplasma and the Thermophilic Sulfur-Dependent Archaebacteria I. Introduction and Definitions II. Phylogenetic Considerations III. Thermoplasma: Genus of Uncertain Affiliation IV. Sulfolobus V. Thermoproteales VI. Organisms Occurring in Submarine Hot Volcanic Areas VII. Requirements and Upper Boundary of Thermophilic Life VIII. Key to Thermoplasma and the Genera of the Thermophilic Sulfur-DependentArchaebacteria References 3. The Halobacteriaceae I. Introduction: What They Are and Why We Study Them II. Salty Places and Their Inhabitants III. Halophilic and Halotolerant Microorganisms IV. Definition and Classification of Halobacterium and Halococcus Species (FamilyHalobacteriaceae) V. Physiology of the Halobacteriaceae VI. Genetics of Halobacteria VII. Some Notes on the Halococci VIII. Concluding Remarks: What's Next with the Halobacteriaceae? References 4. Sedimentary Record and Archaebacteria I. Introduction II. Fate of Organic Matter in a Sediment III. Geochemical Fossils: Biological Markers References II. Translation Apparatus of Archaebacteria 5. The Structure and Evolution of Archaebacterial Ribosomal RNA I. Introduction II. Origins of the Archaebacterial Concept III. Ribosomal RNA Gene Organization IV. RNA Secondary Structure: General Considerations V. 5 S rRNA Primary and Secondary Structure VI. 16 S rRNA Primary and Secondary Structure VII. Evolutionary Considerations References 6. Transfer Ribonucleic Acids of Archaebacteria I. Introduction II. Generalized tRNA Structure III. Archaebacterial tRNAs IV. Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases and Aminoacylation V. Codon and Anticodon Usage VI. Archaebacterial tRNA Genes VII. Concluding Remarks Appendix: Sequences of Archaebacterial tRNAs References 7. Ribosomes of Archaebacteria I. Introduction II. Archaebacterial Ribosomes III. Archaebacterial Ribosomal Domains IV. Archaebacterial Ribosomal Proteins V. Evolutionary Considerations References 8. Elongation Factors I. Introduction II. Elongation III. Archaebacterial Elongation Factors IV. Ribosome Specificity of Elongation Factors from Three Primary Kingdoms V. Conclusions References III. General Molecular Characteristics of Archabacteria 9. Cell Envelopes of Archaebacteria I. Introduction II. Structure and Chemistry of Cell Envelopes III. Surface Components of Archaebacteria without Cell Envelopes IV. Immunology of Cell Envelopes of Methanogenic Bacteria V. Conclusion References 10. Lipids of Archaebacteria I. Introduction II. Glycerolipids III. Polar Lipids IV. Nonpolar Lipids V. Biosynthesis VI. Membrane Organization VII. Summary References 11. DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases of the Archaebacteria I. Transcription in Eubacteria II. Nuclear Transcription in Eukaryotes III.