Molecules in E. coli

University of California, Davis
Biological Sciences

Primary classes of molecules in E. coli.

Compound

% weight
ave. MW
#/cell
# of kinds
comment

H20
70
18
4 X 10e10
1

Ions
(Na,K,SO4,
etc.)

1

40

2.6 X 10e8

20 major
example- Na+
~0.050 M

Carbohydrates
3
150
2 X 10e8
250

Amino Acids
0.4
120
3 X 10e7
20 main
~120 total

Nucleotides
0.4
300
1.2 X 10e7
5 main
~100 total

Lipids
2
750
2.5 X 10e7
50

Proteins
15
40,000
1 X 10e6
4,288
35 - 85,000
in humans!

RNA
6
10e6
2 X 10e4
~2,000
35 - 85,000
in humans!

DNA
1
2.5 X 10e9
1 (4)
1

Compound	% weight	ave. MW	#/cell	# of kinds	comment
H20	70	18	4 X 10e10	1
Ions (Na,K,SO4, etc.)	1	40	2.6 X 10e8	20 major	example- Na+ ~0.050 M
Carbohydrates	3	150	2 X 10e8	250
Amino Acids	0.4	120	3 X 10e7	20 main ~120 total
Nucleotides	0.4	300	1.2 X 10e7	5 main ~100 total
Lipids	2	750	2.5 X 10e7	50
Proteins	15	40,000	1 X 10e6	4,288	35 - 85,000 in humans!
RNA	6	10e6	2 X 10e4	~2,000	35 - 85,000 in humans!
DNA	1	2.5 X 10e9	1 (4)	1