nutrients

supply of monomers (or precursors of) required by cells for growth

macronutrients

nutrients required in large amounts

micronutrients

nutrients required in trace amounts

macronutrients: carbon (C)

• required by ALL cells, major element in ALL classes of macromolecules
• typical bacterial cell is ~50% carbon (by dry weight)
• heterotrophs use organic carbon, autotrophs use carbon dioxide (CO2)

macronutrients: nitrogen (N)

• typically bacterial cell is ~13% nitrogen (by dry weight)
• key element in proteins, nucleic acids, and many more cell constituents

macronutrients: phosphorus (P)

synthesis of nucleic acids and phospholipids

macronutrients: sulfur (S)

sulfur-containing amino acids

macronutrients: potassium (K)

macronutrients: magnesium (Mg)

macronutrients: calcium (Ca)

macronutrients:sodium (Na)