1;Biology of Rhodococcus;3 1.1;Preface;5 1.2;Contents;7 1.3;Contributors;9 1.4;Systematics of Members of the Genus Rhodococcus (Zopf 1891) Emend Goodfellow et al. 1998;13 1.4.1;1 Introduction;14 1.4.2;2 The Past: A Brief History of the Genus Rhodococcus: A Red Coccus;15 1.4.3;3 Current Systematics;18 1.4.3.1;3.1 The Genus Rhodococcus;18 1.4.3.2;3.2 Current Species of Rhodococcus;20 1.4.4;4 Ecology of Rhodococcus spp.;22 1.4.5;5 Identifying New Rhodococcus Species;22 1.4.6;6 Tidying Up Rhodococcus Systematics;23 1.4.7;7 The Future of Rhodococcus Systematics;25 1.4.8;8 Note Added in Proof;30 1.4.9;References;32 1.5;The Rhodococcal Cell Envelope: Composition, Organisation and Biosynthesis;41 1.5.1;1 Introduction;42 1.5.2;2 Cell Envelope Composition in the Genus Rhodococcus: Covalently Associated Components;42 1.5.2.1;2.1 Mycolic Acids;42 1.5.2.2;2.2 The Peptidoglycan-Arabinogalactan Complex;44 1.5.3;3 Organisation of the Rhodococcal Cell Envelope;46 1.5.4;4 Non-Covalently Associated Cell Envelope Components;49 1.5.4.1;4.1 Channel Forming Porins;49 1.5.4.2;4.2 Lipoglycans;50 1.5.4.3;4.3 Cell Envelope Lipids;51 1.5.4.4;4.4 Capsules and Cell Envelope Polysaccharides;52 1.5.4.5;4.5 Lipoproteins;53 1.5.5;5 Biosynthesis of Key Cell Envelope Components;54 1.5.5.1;5.1 Mycolic Acid Biosynthesis;55 1.5.5.2;5.2 Arabinogalactan Biosynthesis;59 1.5.5.2.1;5.2.1 Linker Unit Synthesis;60 1.5.5.2.2;5.2.2 Galactan Synthesis;61 1.5.5.2.3;5.2.3 Arabinan Synthesis;62 1.5.5.2.4;5.2.4 Macromolecular Ligation;65 1.5.5.3;5.3 LAM Biosynthesis;68 1.5.6;6 Concluding Comments;71 1.5.7;References;72 1.6;Genomes and Plasmids in Rhodococcus;84 1.6.1;1 Introduction;85 1.6.2;2 Historical Context of Studies on Rhodococcus Genetics;85 1.6.3;3 Overview of Rhodococcus Genomes;87 1.6.3.1;3.1 Genome Size and Variability;88 1.6.3.2;3.2 Plasmids - Role of Linear and Circular Plasmids;90 1.6.3.3;3.3 Mobile Genetic Elements and Genetic Instability;91 1.6.4;4 The Genetic Basis of Catabolic Capabilities;93 1.6.5;5 Gene Regulation and Expression;94 1.6.6;6 Concluding Remarks;96 1.6.7;References;96 1.7;Central Metabolism of Species of the Genus Rhodococcus;102 1.7.1;1 Introduction;103 1.7.2;2 Glycolytic Pathways;104 1.7.3;3 Glycogen Synthesis and the Link with the Central Metabolism;111 1.7.4;4 Gluconeogenesis and the Phosphoenolpyruvate- Pyruvate-Oxalacetate Node;111 1.7.5;5 The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle;114 1.7.6;6 The Glyoxylate Pathway;114 1.7.7;7 Litoautotrophic Processes in Rhodococcus;115 1.7.8;8 Concluding Remarks;116 1.7.9;References;117 1.8;Adaptation of Rhodococcus to Organic Solvents;120 1.8.1;1 Introduction;121 1.8.1.1;1.1 Predicting Solvent Toxicity;121 1.8.1.2;1.2 Effect of Solvents on Bacterial Cells;123 1.8.2;2 Intrinsic Resistance to Organic Solvents;124 1.8.3;3 Adaptation Mechanisms to Organic Solvents;127 1.8.3.1;3.1 Adaptation of the Cell Wall and of the Cellular Membrane;128 1.8.3.2;3.2 Biocatalysis and Biodegradation of the Toxic Compound;131 1.8.3.3;3.3 Other Mechanisms of Protection;135 1.8.4;4 Application;137 1.8.5;References;137 1.9;Catabolism of Aromatic Compounds and Steroids by Rhodococcus;143 1.9.1;1 Introduction;144 1.9.2;2 Mononuclear Aromatic Compounds;146 1.9.2.1;2.1 Underlying Strategies of Aromatic Compound Catabolism in Rhodococci;147 1.9.3;3 Peripheral Versus Central Aromatic Pathways;149 1.9.3.1;3.1 Central Pathways;149 1.9.3.1.1;3.1.1 beta-Ketoadipate Pathway;150 1.9.3.1.2;3.1.2 Modified beta-Ketoadipate Pathways;152 1.9.3.1.3;3.1.3 Phenylacetate (Paa) Pathway;153 1.9.3.2;3.2 Peripheral Pathways;155 1.9.3.2.1;3.2.1 Biphenyl and Alkylbenzene Pathways;156 1.9.3.2.2;3.2.2 Phthalate and Terephthalate Pathways;157 1.9.4;4 Polymeric and Halogenated Aromatic Compounds;158 1.9.4.1;4.1 Lignin Degradation;158 1.9.4.2;4.2 Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons;161 1.9.4.3;4.3 Halogenated Aromatic Compounds;162 1.9.4.3.1;4.3.1 PCBs and PBDEs;162 1.9.5;5 Steroids;163 1.9.5.1;5.1 Uptake of Sterols;165 1.9.5.2;5.2 Side-Chain Degradation;166 1.9.5.3;5.3 Nucleus Degr