Magnesium articles from across Nature Portfolio

Magnesium (Mg, atomic number 12) is an alkaline earth metal that exists in living systems as Mg2+ ions. Various metalloproteins require magnesium for their function and these are involved in glycolysis and nucleic acid biochemistry. Magnesium can be bound directly or indirectly in metalloproteins or directly to ATP for ATP-dependent reactions.

Latest Research and Reviews

Research
29 June 2022 | Open Access

Magnesium stable isotope composition, but not concentration, responds to obesity and early insulin-resistant conditions in minipig
- Samuel le Goff
- , Jean-Philippe Godin
- & Vincent Balter
Scientific Reports 12, 10941
Research
29 June 2021 | Open Access

Crystal structure of an archaeal CorB magnesium transporter

CNNM/CorB proteins are a conserved family of membrane proteins associated with Mg²⁺ transport. Here, structures of an archaeal CorB protein in apo state and with Mg²⁺-ATP bound and accompanying biophysical experiments suggest direct Mg²⁺ transport by CorB proteins.
- Yu Seby Chen
- , Guennadi Kozlov
- & Kalle Gehring
Nature Communications 12, 4028
Research
08 January 2020 | Open Access

Metal ions and sugar puckering balance single-molecule kinetic heterogeneity in RNA and DNA tertiary contacts

Mobile group II introns function as ribozymes to splice and reinsert themselves into DNA, thereby colonizing new genomic regions. Here the authors use single-molecule FRET and molecular dynamics simulations to reveal a structural link between metal ion induced kinetic heterogeneity and the sugar puckers at the exon-intron binding interface.
- Fabio D. Steffen
- , Mokrane Khier
- & Roland K. O. Sigel
Nature Communications 11, 104
Research | 10 June 2019

An artificial DNAzyme RNA ligase shows a reaction mechanism resembling that of cellular polymerases

DNAzymes are attractive catalysts for biomedical and biotechnological applications, but their catalytic mechanism remained obscure. This work investigates the detailed reaction mechanism of RNA ligation catalysed by the 9DB1 DNAzyme, revealing that it resembles those of natural protein enzymes.
- Juan Aranda
- , Montserrat Terrazas
- & Modesto Orozco
Nature Catalysis 2, 544-552
Research
20 December 2017 | Open Access

Magnesium intake and mortality due to liver diseases: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cohort
- Lijun Wu
- , Xiangzhu Zhu
- & Qi Dai
Scientific Reports 7, 17913
Research
01 December 2017 | Open Access

Magnesium uptake by connecting fluid-phase endocytosis to an intracellular inorganic cation filter

Metal bioavailability is frequently limited by sequestering agents which makes them inaccessible to cells. Here the authors show that cells can increase Mg²⁺ uptake via fluid phase endocytosis and accumulate this metal in their vacuole loaded with polyphosphate, and later can be exported to the cytosol.
- Sandra H. Klompmaker
- , Kid Kohl
- & Andreas Mayer
Nature Communications 8, 1879

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News and Comment

News & Views | 13 June 2019

How DNA catalyses RNA ligation

A synthetic DNA enzyme catalyses the formation of a native phosphodiester bond between two RNA fragments, but the molecular details of the mechanism remained elusive. Research using computational and biochemical approaches now suggests that the DNA enzyme recruits two magnesium ions to assist in the catalysis of RNA ligation.
- Claudia Höbartner
Nature Catalysis 2, 483-484
Research Highlights | 31 May 2016

Yes, circadian rhythms actually do affect almost everything

Circadian rhythms in the level of intracellular Mg²⁺ appear to be widely conserved phylogenetically, and have the potential to impact nearly all aspects of metabolism. Moreover, the clock regulates the ion channels that generate the rhythm, demonstrating that the whole cell operates as a circadian system.
- Jay C Dunlap
- & Jennifer J Loros
Cell Research 26, 759-760
Research Highlights | 20 August 2013

Cellular basis of XMEN
- Zoltan Fehervari
Nature Immunology 14, 892
Research Highlights | 23 October 2012

Magnesium intake and risk of colorectal cancer

Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 9, 687
News & Views | 27 July 2011

Magnesium in a signalling role

Magnesium binds to enzymes and nucleic acids and is essential for their activity. It emerges that this ion can also function as a signalling molecule with a crucial role in the immune system. See Article p.471
- Ning Wu
- & André Veillette
Nature 475, 462-463

All News & Comment

Magnesium articles from across Nature Portfolio

Latest Research and Reviews

Magnesium stable isotope composition, but not concentration, responds to obesity and early insulin-resistant conditions in minipig

Crystal structure of an archaeal CorB magnesium transporter

Metal ions and sugar puckering balance single-molecule kinetic heterogeneity in RNA and DNA tertiary contacts

An artificial DNAzyme RNA ligase shows a reaction mechanism resembling that of cellular polymerases

Magnesium intake and mortality due to liver diseases: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Cohort

Magnesium uptake by connecting fluid-phase endocytosis to an intracellular inorganic cation filter

News and Comment

How DNA catalyses RNA ligation

Yes, circadian rhythms actually do affect almost everything

Cellular basis of XMEN

Magnesium intake and risk of colorectal cancer

Magnesium in a signalling role

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