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CHAPTER 1
Cell Nutrients
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Introduction to Biotechnoloy
Cynthia F. Madrazo, PhD

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3.0 Cell Nutrients

3.0 Elemental Composition of Cells

3.1 Macronutrients
3.2 Micronutrients
3.3 Growth Media

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3.0 Composition of Cells

Cells are composed of 80% water. The other 20% is
composed of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and
polysaccharides.

Typical Bakers Yeast (S. cerevisiae) Composition (El mansi et al., 1999)
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Nutrients Required by Cells

can be classified into:

1.Macronutrients

2.Micronutrients
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3.1 Macronutrients

Nutrients needed in concentration larger than

10-4M.
Examples are Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,
hydrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, Mg2+, and K+
(C, H, O, N, S, P, Mg, K)
Sources:
Organic compounds
Inorganic salts

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3.1 Macronutrients
Carbon major source of cellular carbon and energy
Examples are:
i. molasses, starch, corn syrup, waste sulfite liquor used in
industrial fermentation
ii. Glucose, sucrose, fructose in the lab
iii. Methanol, ethanol, methane
In aerobic fermentation, about 50% is used for cell mass
synthesis and 50% as energy source
In anaerobic fermentation, less than 30% is used for cell
synthesis

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3.1 Macronutrients

Nitrogen used in proteins and nucleic

acids
Examples are:
i. Ammonia, ammonium salts, urea
ii. Proteins, peptides, amino acids
iii. Nitrogen from the atmosphere
iv. Yeast Extract and Peptone

Regardless of the initial form, must be converted to NH3

(the only form that can be directly combined with C to
synthesize amino acids and other compounds) 7
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3.1 Macronutrients
Hydrogen major constituent of cell in the form of water
and carbohydrates, helps maintain pH, involve in forming
hydrogen bonds between molecules
Sulfur are found in proteins and coenzyme, sources are
sulfate salts and sulfur-containing amino acids ((NH4)2SO4)
Phosphorus present in nucleic acids, sources are
inorganic phopshate salts (K2HPO4, KHPO4)
Potassium is a cofactor for enzymes and required in
carbohydrate metabolism, sources are potassium salts
Magnesium cofactor of enzymes and is present in cell
wall and membranes, sources are magnesium salts (MgCl2)
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3. 2 Micronutrients

Trace Elements
Nutrients needed in concentration less than
10-4M.
Examples are Mo2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Ca2+,
Na+, vitamins, growth hormones, and metabolic
precursors

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3. 2 Micronutrients
Sodium- certain types of cell transport
Calcium- stabilizer of cell walls and endospores
Iron- important component of cytochrome
proteins
Zinc- essential regulatory element for eukaryotic
genetics, and binding factors for enzymes
Copper, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, manganese,
silicon, iodine, and boron- needed in small
amounts by some microbes but not others
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3. 2 Micronutrients

Growth factor: An organic compound such as

an amino acid, nitrogenous base, or vitamin that
cannot be synthesized by an organism and must be
provided as a nutrient, they stimulate growth and
synthesis of metabolites
Vitamins functions as co-enzyme, examples
are thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6),
biotin, cyanocobalamine (B12), folic acid, lipoic
acid, p-amino benzoic acid and vitamin K
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3.3 Culture Media

A culture media is a solid or liquid preparation
used to grow, transport, and store microorganisms.

Defined
Prepared with precise amounts of chemicals
Known composition
Complex
Exact composition unknown
Digests of beef, soybean, yeast
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Media 1

Media 2
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3.3 Culture Media

Anti-foam agent
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Anti-foam agent
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Anti-foam agent
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Heme group
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TEMPERATURE effects on growth

Below a certain temperature range, reactions are inactivated, thereby
abolishing growth
At a certain temperature range, the Arrhenius equation applies wherein
increase in temperature results in an increase in reaction rate
Then increased rate as a function of increased temperature is offset by
the changes in protein structure resulting in inactivation or denaturation
of a critical cell protein, with an accompanying cessation of growth
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TEMPERATURE effects on cell structure and function

PROTEINS alteration of protein
structure, formation of heat shock proteins
DNA frequently found that the DNA of
thermophilic microbes contains a relatively
large proportion of guanosine (G) and
cytosine (C ) residues. It reflects greater
stability of DNA because G and C are
interconnected by 3 bonds, whereas A and
T are interconnected by only two bonds
LIPIDS increased in saturated lipids for
organisms exposed to high temperature
and increased unsaturated lipids for those
exposed to lower temperatures
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pH effects on cell (enzymes)

Michaelis suggested that proteins should be regarded as analogous to a diprotic acid

The theoretical relationship between enzyme activity and pH when all forms of the
enzyme are considered as functions of the unionized (F0), the singly ionized (F) or the
doubly ionized (F) forms of the enzyme molecule. The curve expected for the singly
ionized form is that which is actually observed, suggesting that the active forms of
enzymes are singly ionized.
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pH H+ gradients
In the mitochondria, proton gradients is used to power ATP Synthase for ATP
generation
For some microorganisms, proton gradients are used for transport and motility
Although microrganisms grow at extreme pH, intracellular pH are usually
maintained at pH 7.0
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Oxygen
Required by aerobes for respiration (electron transport chain)
Protection from exposure to oxygen and its toxic metabolites depends
upon the presence of enzymes that can destroy them

Superoxide dismutase - 2O2- O22- + O2

Catalase - H2O2 H2O + O2
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Adaptations to Osmotic Variations in

the Environment
Example: fresh pond water- hypotonic
conditions
Bacteria- cell wall protects them from bursting
Amoeba- a water (or contractile) vacuole that
moves excess water out of the cell
Example: high-salt environment- hypertonic
conditions
Halobacteria living in the Great Salt Lake- absorb
salt to make their cells isotonic with the
environment