Magnesium (Mg(2+)) is the second most abundant cation in cells, yet relatively few mechanisms have been identified that regulate cellular levels of this ion. The most clearly identified Mg(2+) transporters are in bacteria and yeast. Here, we use a yeast complementary screen to identify two mammalian genes, MagT1 and TUSC3, as major mechanisms of Mg(2+) influx. MagT1 is universally expressed in all human tissues and its expression level is up-regulated in low extracellular Mg(2+). Knockdown of either MagT1 or TUSC3 protein significantly lowers the total and free intracellular Mg(2+) concentrations in mammalian cell lines. Morpholino knockdown of MagT1 and TUSC3 protein expression in zebrafish embryos results in early developmental arrest; excess Mg(2+) or supplementation with mammalian mRNAs can rescue the effects. We conclude that MagT1 and TUSC3 are indispensable members of the vertebrate plasma membrane Mg(2+) transport system.

• PMID: 19717468
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Reference Type

Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors

Zhou H, Clapham DE

Primary Lit For

ALR1

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Review For