Essential Nutrients

Chemicals that are necessary for particular organisms, which they CANNOT MANUFACTURE BY THEMSELVES are called _______

essential

Biologist remember these essential elements with the acronym _______

CHONPS

Among the common organic molecules that can satisfy this requirement are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Carbon

_______ is a major element in all organic and sever inorganic compounds in cluding water and certain naturally occurring gases. These gases are both used and produced by microbes.

Hydrogen

________ helps cells maintain their pH, is useful for forming _______ bonds between molecules and also serves as a source of free energy in respiration

Hydrogen

Because _______ is a major component of organic compounds (carbs, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins), it plays an important role in the structural and enzymatic functions of the cell.

oxygen

________ is essential for protein synthesis & membrane function

Potassium

______ is important for certain types of cell transport

sodium

________ is a stabilizer of the cell wall and the ENDOSPORES of some bacteria

Calcium

________ is a component of chlorophyll and a stabilizer of membranes & ribosomes

Magnesium

_______ is an important component of the cytochrome proteins of cell respiration

Iron

______ is an essential regulatory element for eukaryotic genetics.

It is a major component of “____ fingers” binding factors that help enzymes adhere to specific sites on DNA

Zinc

Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis grow more rapidly in the presence of ____

IRON