The eleven chapters contained in this volume are presented by Rehm (Institute of Molecular BioSciences, Massey U., New Zealand) with the aim of describing the most important biopolymers and polymer precursors produced by microorganisms in terms of their biosynthesis pathways, material properties, and industrial production processes. Chapters discuss xanthan biosynthesis by xanthomonas bacteria, microbial production of alginate, bacterial cellulose production, biosynthesis and application of cyanophycin, applications with levan, microbial hyaluronic acid biosynthesis, fermentative production of organic acids for polymer synthesis, metabolic engineering of microorganisms for oligosaccharide and polysaccharide production, microbial exopolysaccharides, and polyhydroxyalkanoates from bacterial storage compound via renewable plastic to bio-bead. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation 2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
