Magnesium (Mg2+), an essential ion for cells and biological systems, is involved in a variety of cellular processes, including the formation and breakdown of microtubules. The results of a previous investigation suggested that as cells grow the intracellular Mg2+ concentration falls, thereby stimulating formation of the mitotic spindle. In the present work, we used a Mg2+-deficient Schizosaccha...

The binding of Mg2+ to the ribitol teichoic acid of Staphylococcus aureus H walls was examined by equilibrium dialysis in solution and in the intact wall; the influence of alanyl ester groups on binding was determined. In solution the ribitol polymer had a lower affinity than did a glycerol teichoic acid and bound Mg2+ in the ratio Mg2+/P of 1:1. The presence of alanyl ester residues caused a d...

Although Mg2+ contributes to blood pressure regulation partly in terms of vasodilator action, its sympatholytic effect may also play an important role to control blood pressure. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effect of Mg2+ on sympathetic tone and blood pressure. We studied its actions on the blood pressure response to hydralazine, a direct vasodilator, in conscious spontaneous...

This work was initially undertaken to investigate the effects of Mg2+ on light-induced proton move­ ment and formation of proton gradient across the thylakoid membranes. In course of investigation it was observed that addition of Mg2+ in a chloroplast suspension kept in the dark caused extensive ex­ trusion of protons from the membranes into the medium. This report describes the properties of M...

BACKGROUND Aldosteronism may account for oxi/nitrosative stress, a proinflammatory phenotype, and wasting in congestive heart failure. We hypothesized that aldosterone/1% NaCl treatment (ALDOST) in rats enhances Ca2+ and Mg2+ excretion and leads to systemic effects, including bone loss. METHODS AND RESULTS At 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of ALDOST, we monitored Ca2+ and Mg2+ excretion, ionized [Ca2+]...

Mg2+ is known to be a potent inhibitor of F1 ATPases from various sources. Such inhibition requires the presence of a tightly bound ADP at a catalytic site. Results with the spinach chloroplast F1 ATPase (CF1) show that the time delays of up to 1 min or more in the induction or the relief of the inhibition are best explained by a slow binding and slow release of Mg2+ rather than by slow enzyme ...

Calcium accumulation by two fractions of sarcoplasmic reticulum presumably derived from longitudinal tubules (light vesicles) and terminal cisternae (heavy vesicles) was examined radiochemically in the presence of various free Mg2+ concentrations. Both fractions of sarcoplasmic reticulum exhibited a Mg2+-dependent increase in phosphate-supported calcium uptake velocity, though half-maximal velo...

Available evidence suggests that Mg2+ ions are involved in reactions catalyzed by hammerhead ribozymes. However, the activity in the presence of exclusively monovalent ions led us to question whether divalent metal ions really function as catalysts when they are present. We investigated ribozyme activity in the presence of high levels of Mg2+ ions and the effects of Li+ ions in promoting ribozy...