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Cited by 123RNA and protein synthesis mechanismsBacterial Genetics and BiotechnologyBiochemical and Molecular Research

Mg 2+ , K + , and the Ribosome

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Nierhaus, Knud H.·2014·Journal of Bacteriology
DOI 10.1128/jb.02297-14PMC PMC4248827
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Abstract

Mg 2+ and K + are the prevalent di- and monovalent cations inside the cells in all three domains, playing a dominant role in structure and function of biological macromolecules. Ribosomes bind a substantial fraction of total Mg 2+ and K + cations. In this issue of the Journal of Bacteriology , Akanuma and coworkers (G. Akanuma et al., J. Bacteriol. 196:3820–3830, 2014, doi: 10.1128/JB.01896-14 ) report a surprising genetic link between ribosome amounts per cell and the intracellular Mg 2+ concentrations.

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Crossref · 10.1128/jb.02297-14

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  • The bulk ions (K+, Mg2+) have a low affinity for ligands and a large labile pool.

    “The bulk ions (K+, Mg2+) have a low affinity for ligands and a large labile pool,5,6”

    From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

    In the Nierhaus commentary (page not provided), Mg²⁺ and K⁺ are described as prevalent intracellular ions, and bound and free Mg²⁺ are said to be in equilibrium. But the paper does not establish low affinity for ligands or a large labile pool for both ions; it reports only 1–5 mM free Mg²⁺ out of about 100 mM total. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • At equilibrium, free metal pools are significant for K+ and Mg2+ and are composed of both free and weakly complexed ions.

    “At equilibrium, free metal pools are significant for K+ and Mg2+ and are composed of both free and weakly complexed ions.5−7”

    From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

    The main text (section headed “Knud H. Nierhaus”; page not provided) reports free Mg2+ at 2–5 mM and intracellular K+ at 60–150 mM under stress-free conditions. It does not say that both have significant free pools at equilibrium or that those pools include weakly complexed ions. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Other estimates of the contribution of the ribosome to Mg2+ pools are in the same range, corresponding to ~12 mM in E. coli or as much as ~25% of the quota.

    “Other estimates of the contribution of the ribosome to Mg2+ pools are in this same range, corresponding to ∼12 mM in E. coli(5) or as much as ∼25% of the quota.60”

    From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

    In the main text (page unavailable), Nierhaus says E. coli ribosomes bind about 12 mM Mg²⁺ out of about 100 mM total—roughly 12% of the quota. This supports a substantial ribosomal contribution, but not the approximately 25% figure attached to this citation. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Mg2+ is the most abundant divalent cation in cells (quota ~100 mM).

    “Mg2+ is the most abundant divalent cation in cells (quota ∼100 mM) and plays a central role in nucleic acid structure and as an enzyme cofactor.5”

    From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

    The main text says Mg2+ is the most abundant multivalent cation and reports a total Mg2+ concentration of about 100 mM in E. coli cells. The 100 mM figure is given for E. coli, not for cells generally, so the claim extends that figure beyond the population specified in the source. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Mg2+ plays a central role in nucleic acid structure and as an enzyme cofactor.

    “Mg2+ is the most abundant divalent cation in cells (quota ∼100 mM) and plays a central role in nucleic acid structure and as an enzyme cofactor.5”

    From Metals in Motion: Understanding Labile Metal Pools in Bacteria (2025) · cites this paper as [5]

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 27

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Nierhaus, K. H.
Affiliations
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Corresponding author
Nierhaus, Knud H.
Venue
Journal of Bacteriology
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Published
2014-11-15
Volume
196
Issue
22
Pages
3817-3819
ISSN
  • 0021-9193 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-5530
DOI
10.1128/jb.02297-14
PMC
PMC4248827
OpenAlex
W1991753500
Cited by
123
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.asm.org/non-commercial-tdm-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Bacteriology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Molecular Research
Keywords
ribosome biogenesis, magnesium ions, potassium ions, bacterial ribosome
MeSH terms
Bacillus subtilis, Bacterial Proteins, Magnesium, Ribosomal Proteins, Ribosomes

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