1;Preface;6 2;Contents;8 3;Contributors;10 4;Chapter 1: Extracellular DNA as Matrix Component in Microbial Biofilms;14 4.1;1.1 Introduction;15 4.2;1.2 Extracellular DNA as Matrix Component in P. aeruginosa Biofilm;16 4.3;1.3 Extracellular DNA as Matrix Component in Streptococcal Biofilm;19 4.4;1.4 Extracellular DNA as Matrix Component in Staphylococcal Biofilm;21 4.5;1.5 Final Remarks;23 4.6;References;23 5;Chapter 2: Gene Transfer Agents and Defective Bacteriophages as Sources of Extracellular Prokaryotic DNA;28 5.1;2.1 Viruses in the Environment and Packaging of Host DNA;28 5.2;2.2 Defective Phages and Extracellular DNA;30 5.3;2.3 Gene Transfer Agents and Extracellular DNA;31 5.4;2.4 Concluding Remarks;34 5.5;References;35 6;Chapter 3: Roles of Extracellular DNA in Bacterial Ecosystem;38 6.1;3.1 Extracellular DNA in Natural Environments;39 6.2;3.2 Extracellular DNA as Nutrient;40 6.3;3.3 Extracellular DNA as Genetic Material;40 6.4;3.4 Extracellular DNA in Biofilm;41 6.5;3.5 Uptake and Release of DNA;43 6.6;3.6 Uptake of Extracellular DNA by Indigenous Bacteria;47 6.7;References;48 7;Chapter 4: Stable Extracellular DNA: A Novel Substrate for Genetic Engineering that Mimics Horizontal Gene Transfer in Nature;51 7.1;4.1 Introduction;52 7.1.1;4.1.1 Transformable Recipient Microorganisms;53 7.1.2;4.1.2 Natural Transformation Demonstrated in the Laboratory Test-tube;54 7.1.3;4.1.3 Why Is Natural Transformation Important for Molecular Biology Research and Application?;55 7.2;4.2 Production of Stable Extracellular DNA Released from Donor Cells;56 7.2.1;4.2.1 Extracellular DNAs Released from Cells Lysed in the Laboratory;56 7.2.2;4.2.2 Extracellular DNA: An Active Substrate in the Natural Transformation of a Gram-Positive Bacterium;58 7.3;4.3 Engineered Natural Transformation in the Laboratory;60 7.3.1;4.3.1 Integration of Extracellular DNA into the Engineered Recipient Genome;60 7.3.2;4.3.2 Integration of 100kb DNA into B. subtilis by the CMM;61 7.4;4.4 Conclusions and Future Perspectives;61 7.5;References;63 8;Chapter 5: Extracellular Nucleic Acids of the Marine Phototrophic Bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum and Related Bacteria: Physiology and Biotechnology;66 8.1;5.1 Introduction;67 8.2;5.2 Flocculation and Extracellular Nucleic Acid Production;67 8.2.1;5.2.1 Rhodovulum sp. Strain PS88;67 8.2.2;5.2.2 Extracellular DNA and Flocculation of Rhodovulum sulfidophilum;69 8.2.3;5.2.3 DNA as the Cell-to-Cell Interconnecting Compound in Floc of Rdv. sulfidophilum ;71 8.3;5.3 Analysis of Extracellular Nucleic Acids;72 8.3.1;5.3.1 Extracellular RNAs of Rdv. sulfidophilum;72 8.3.2;5.3.2 Extracellular DNA of Rdv. sulfidophilum;73 8.3.3;5.3.3 Mechanism for Release of Extracellular DNA and RNA of Rdv. sulfidophilum;73 8.4;5.4 Biotechnology;74 8.4.1;5.4.1 Utility as a Nucleotide Source;74 8.4.2;5.4.2 RNA Drug Production by Engineered Plasmids;74 8.5;References;76 9;Chapter 6: Systemic RNAi in C. elegans from the Viewpoint of RNA as Extracellular Signals;79 9.1;6.1 Introduction;80 9.2;6.2 Systemic RNAi and Trafficking Pathways Associated with Method of Delivery;80 9.2.1;6.2.1 Systemic and Heritable Nature of RNAi in Response to Injected dsRNA;82 9.2.2;6.2.2 Systemic Nature of RNAi in Response to Transgene Delivery of dsRNA;83 9.2.3;6.2.3 Systemic RNAi in Response to Ingestion of dsRNA;85 9.3;6.3 RNA Silencing Mechanisms in C. elegans;85 9.3.1;6.3.1 The Nature of Silencing Molecules in C. elegans;88 9.3.1.1;6.3.1.1 RNA Silencing Molecules Associated with Experimental Delivery of dsRNA;88 9.3.1.2;6.3.1.2 Endogenous Silencing RNAs and Associated RNA Silencing Mechanisms;89 9.3.2;6.3.2 Mechanisms that Inhibit RNAi Responses;92 9.3.3;6.3.3 Mechanisms that Facilitate Spreading of RNA Silencing Molecules;93 9.3.3.1;6.3.3.1 Endocytosis;94 9.3.3.2;6.3.3.2 Transmembrane Proteins;96 9.4;6.4 Conclusions;98 9.5;References;99 10;Chapter 7: Circulating Nucleic Acids in Health and Disease;103 10.1;7.1 Introduction;104 10.2;7.2 Circulating NA in Cancer;104 10.