Biochemistry and molecular biology are among the most rapidly emerging areas in the life sciences. Indeed, a number of important advances have been made with fungi and yeasts since the first edition of this volume was published in 1996. Still further, the influence that genomics projects have had on the design and interpretation of experiments in almost all areas is truly impressive. The availability of large amounts of sequence data has quickly altered the scope and dimensions of genetics and biochemistry, leading to new insights into fungal biology.

Earlier chapters on mitochondrial import of proteins, pH and regulation of gene expression, stress responses, signal transduction, polysaccharidases, trehalose metabolisms, polyamines, carbon metabolism, and acetamide metabolism have been extensively revised or rewritten. Completely new chapters have been prepared on gene ontogeny, peroxisomes, mitochondrial gene expression, chitin biosynthesis, iron metabolism, GATA transcription factors, carbon metabolism, and sulfur metabolism.