Providing a comprehensive insight into cellular signaling processes in bacteria with a special focus on biotechnological implications, this is the first book to cover intercellular as well as intracellular signaling and its relevance for biofilm formation, host pathogen interactions, symbiotic relationships, and photo- and chemotaxis. In addition, it deals in detail with principal bacterial signaling mechanisms -- making this a valuable resource for all advanced students in microbiology. Dr. Krämer is a world-renowned expert in intracellular signaling and its implications for biotechnology processes, while Dr. Jung is an expert on intercellular signaling and its relevance for biomedicine and agriculture.

Reinhard Krämer is chair in Biochemistry at Cologne University, Germany. After studying Biochemistry at the Universities of Tübingen and Munich, he obtained his Ph.D. from LMU Munich. He then spent 10 years at the Research Center Jülich (Institute of Biotechnology) and the University of Düsseldorf as an Associate Professor for Biochemistry before taking up his present position at Cologne University. During his scientific career, R. Krämer has focused on different aspects of membrane transport proteins, both in mitochondria and in prokaryotes, as well as on stress response in bacteria, in particular osmotic stress. Kirsten Jung studied biochemistry and performed her doctoral thesis at the University of Leipzig in 1988. After postdoctoral studies at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, she continued her research at the University of Osnabrück. In 2002 she was appointed as Associate Professor for Microbiology at the Technical University of Darmstadt, and in 2004 she became Full Professor and Chair for Microbiology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich. Research of Kirsten Jung is focused on the molecular mechanisms of stimulus perception by sensor kinases involved in environmental stress response.

INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION Intercellular Communication: Introduction Cell-cell Communication and Biofilm Formation in Gram-positive Bacteria Cell-cell Communication in Biofilms of Gram-negative Bacteria Cell Interactions Guide the Swarming and Fruiting Body Development of Myxobacteria Communication between Rhizobia and Plants Communication between Pathogens and Eukaryotic Cells Identification of Bacterial Autoinducers (Methods Chapter) TRANSMEMBRANE SIGNALING Transmembrane Signaling: Introduction Outer Membrane Signaling in Gram-negative Bacteria Stimulus Perception and Signaling by Histidine Kinases Chemotaxis and Receptor Localization Photoreception and Signal Transduction Transmembrane Signaling Sensory Transport Proteins Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis in Bacterial Transmembrane Signaling Protein Chemical and EPR Spectroscopic Approaches to Monitor Membrane Protein Structure and Dynamics (Methods Chapter) INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING Intracellular Signaling: Introduction Protein Domains Involved in Intracellular Signal Transduction Sensing of Oxygen by Bacteria Microbial Sensor Systems for Dihydrogen, Nitric Oxide, and Carbon-monoxide Signal Transduction by Trigger Enzymes: Bifunctional Enzymes and Transporters Controlling Gene Expression Regulation of Carbohydrate Utilization by Phosphotransferase System-Mediated Protein Phosphorylation Cyclic AMP Signaling in Prokaryotes Cyclic-di-GMP Signaling ppGpp Signaling Sensory RNAs Signal Transduction by Serine/Threonine Protein Kinases in Bacteria Regulated Proteolysis and Signal Transduction in Bacteria Intracellular Signaling and Gene Target Analysis (Methods Chapter)