Microbial Nutrition

Microbial Nutrition
Lec.1
Introduction to Bacterial physiology
Bacterial physiology is the study of the

structures and functions that allow
bacteria to survive. This includes
everything from the composition of
bacterial cell walls to the enzymes they
can produce to perform various internal
and external functions.
Microbial Nutrition
Microorganisms requires about 10 elements in large
quantities, used to construct carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids. Several other factors are
needed in very small amounts and are parts of enzymes
and cofactors.
To obtain energy and construct new cellular
components, organisms must have a supply of raw
materials or nutrients. Nutrients are substances used
in biosynthesis and energy release and therefore are
required for microbial growth.
Analysis of microbial cell composition shows that
over 95% of cell dry weight is made up of a few
major elements; Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen,
Nitrogen, Sulfur, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium,
Magnesium and Iron which are called macro-
elements or macronutrients because they are
required by microorganisms in relatively large
amounts.
First six (C,O,H,N,S and P) are components of
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids
while the remaining four macroelements exist in
the cell as cations and play a variety of roles;
potassium (K+) is required for activity by
number of enzymes, including some of those
involved in protein synthesis.
Calcium (Ca+2) contributes to the heat resistance of
bacterial endospores. Magnesium (Mg+2) serves as a
cofactor for many enzymes, complexes with ATP and
stabilizes ribosomes and cell membranes. Iron (Fe+2 and
Fe+3) is a part of cytochromes and a cofactor for enzymes
and electron–carrying proteins.
All organisms including microorganisms (M.O)
needs several micronutrients or trace elements;
manganese, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel and
copper. They are a part of enzymes and cofactors and
they aids in the catalysis of reactions and
maintenance of protein structure. Zinc (Zn) is
present at the active site of some enzymes.
Requirements for Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
Carbon requirements considers as a skeleton or
backbone of all organic molecules. Molecules serving
as carbon sources also contribute both oxygen and
hydrogen atoms. M.O also needs a source of electron.
The electron movement through electron transport
chains and during other oxidation-reduction reactions
can provides energy which can use in microbial
activities.
Electron also requires in the reduction
reactions during biosynthesis. Carbon dioxide
(CO2) does not supply hydrogen or energy for
the cell. All M.O can fix (CO2) and reduce it
to form organic molecules.
Nutritional types of microorganisms
M.O can be classified into nutritional classes based
on how they satisfy all their requirements (C, H, O,
energy and electrons). There are two sources of
energy available to M.O:
 Light energy & Energy derived from oxidizing
organic or inorganic molecules.
1. Phototrophs: M.O that use light as their energy
source.
2. Chemotrophs: M.O obtain energy from the
oxidation of chemical compounds (organic &
inorganic molecules).
Classification of M.O according to their source of
electrons
1- Lithotrophs: reduced inorganic substances as their electron
source.
2-Organotrophs: extract electrons from organic compounds.
According to carbon sources, M.O can be divided into two
groups
1-Autotrophs; CO2 sole or principal biosynthetic carbon source.
2-Heterotrophs; Reduced, preformed, organic molecules are their
carbon sources.
Major Nutritional Types
Most M.O may be placed in one of four nutritional
classes based on their primary sources of carbon, energy,
and electrons:
1-Photolithoautotrophy: L/E; Inorganic H/Electron
donor; CO2
2-Photoorganoheterotrophy: L/E; Organic H/Electron
donor; O/ C source
3-Chemolithoautotrophy: CH/E Inorganic; Inorganic
H/Electron donor; CO2
4-Chemoorganoheterotrophy: CH /E Organic; Organic
H/Electron donor; O/ C source.
Mixotrophic: M.O that combine ch.li.au. tr. &
heterotrophic metabolic processes.
Requirements for Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur
M.O must be able to incorporate large quantities of N, P
& S in order to growth. Nitrogen requires for synthesis of
amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, some carbohydrates,
lipids, enzyme cofactors and other substances.
Phosphorus is present in nucleic acids, phospholipids,
nucleotides like ATP, several cofactors, some proteins
and other cell components. All M.O use inorganic
phosphate as their phosphorus source.
Sulfur is needed for the synthesis of some amino acids
like cysteine, methionine, some carbohydrates, biotin
and thiamine. Most M.O use sulphate as a source of
sulfur and reduce it by assimilatory sulfate reduction.
Growth factors: are an essential organic compounds
required which are unable to synthesize by the organism.
There are three major classes of growth factors:
1.Amino acids: require for protein synthesis.
2.Purines and pyrimidines: requires for nucleic acid
synthesis.
3.Vitamins: small organic molecules that make up all or
part of enzyme cofactors, only very small amounts
sustain growth. Most common vitamins are Biotin, Folic
acid and Riboflavin (B2).
References
1. Microbial Physiology. Albert G Moat, John W Foster,
Michael P. Spector. 2002. Fourth Edition. A John Wiley and
sons, INC., publication.
2. Microbiology. Lansing M Prescott, John P. Harley,

Donald A. Klein.2004. Sixth Edition. Higher Education.
3. Microbial an introduction. 2004. Gerard J Tortora, Berdell

R Funke, Christine L Case. Eighth Edition.
Thank you

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Microbial Nutrition

Bacterial physiology is the study of the

2. Microbiology. Lansing M Prescott, John P. Harley,

3. Microbial an introduction. 2004. Gerard J Tortora, Berdell

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