Chapter title |
The Natural Functions of Secondary Metabolites
|
---|---|
Chapter number | 1 |
Book title |
History of Modern Biotechnology I
|
Published in |
Advances in biochemical engineering biotechnology, February 2016
|
DOI | 10.1007/3-540-44964-7_1 |
Pubmed ID | |
Book ISBNs |
978-3-54-067793-2, 978-3-54-044964-5
|
Authors |
Arnold L. Demain, Aiqi Fang, Demain, Arnold L., Fang, Aiqi |
Abstract |
Secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, are produced in nature and serve survival functions for the organisms producing them. The antibiotics are a heterogeneous group, the functions of some being related to and others being unrelated to their antimicrobial activities. Secondary metabolites serve: (i) as competitive weapons used against other bacteria, fungi, amoebae, plants, insects, and large animals; (ii) as metal transporting agents; (iii) as agents of symbiosis between microbes and plants, nematodes, insects, and higher animals; (iv) as sexual hormones; and (v) as differentiation effectors. Although antibiotics are not obligatory for sporulation, some secondary metabolites (including antibiotics) stimulate spore formation and inhibit or stimulate germination. Formation of secondary metabolites and spores are regulated by similar factors. This similarity could insure secondary metabolite production during sporulation. Thus the secondary metabolite can: (i) slow down germination of spores until a less competitive environment and more favorable conditions for growth exist; (ii) protect the dormant or initiated spore from consumption by amoebae; or (iii) cleanse the immediate environment of competing microorganisms during germination. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Spain | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 6 | <1% |
Germany | 3 | <1% |
Denmark | 3 | <1% |
France | 2 | <1% |
India | 2 | <1% |
Australia | 1 | <1% |
Uruguay | 1 | <1% |
Mauritius | 1 | <1% |
Iran, Islamic Republic of | 1 | <1% |
Other | 6 | <1% |
Unknown | 940 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 185 | 19% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 165 | 17% |
Student > Master | 158 | 16% |
Researcher | 66 | 7% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 35 | 4% |
Other | 98 | 10% |
Unknown | 259 | 27% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 243 | 25% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 175 | 18% |
Chemistry | 111 | 11% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 40 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 29 | 3% |
Other | 86 | 9% |
Unknown | 282 | 29% |