Project description:Mg2+ is an essential cofactor for numerous enzymes, supporting fundamental cellular processes. Phosphatase of regenerating liver (PRL) protein family, inhibits cyclin M (CNNM) Mg2+ efflux transporters. To elucidate the physiological role of PRL in Mg2+ homeostasis at the cellular level, we employed combined genetic knockout and knockdown approaches. Such PRL KO + KD led to marked reduction of intracellular Mg2+ levels and triggered extensive cell death. To investigate the mechanism underlying cell death induced by PRL KO + KD, we next performed transcriptomic analysis to profile the changes in global gene expression, which revealed activation of the NF-κB pathway, and accordingly, genetic deletion of NF-κB p65 subunit abrogated cell death. Similarly, CNNM overexpression triggered intracellular Mg2+ decrease, NF-κB activation and subsequent cell death. Notably, this form of cell death exhibited unique morphological features, including actin-driven fiber-like protrusions, distinguishing it from known cell death modalities. Our findings uncover a previously unrecognized mode of NF-κB-dependent cell death triggered by intracellular Mg2+ decrease.
Project description:Tripartite resistance nodulation and cell division multidrug efflux pumps span the periplasm and are major drivers of multidrug resistance among Gram-negative bacteria. Cations, such as Mg2+, become concentrated within the periplasm and, in contrast to the cytoplasm, it’s pH is sensitive to conditions outside the cell. Here, we reveal an interplay between Mg2+ and pH in modulating the structural dynamics of the periplasmic adaptor protein, AcrA, and its function within the prototypical AcrAB-TolC multidrug pump from Escherichia coli. In the absence of Mg2+, AcrA becomes increasingly plastic within acidic conditions, but when Mg2+ is bound this is ameliorated, resulting instead in domain specific organisation. We establish a unique histidine residue directs these dynamics and is essential for sustaining pump activity across acidic, neutral, and basic regimes. Overall, we propose Mg2+ conserves AcrA structural mobility to ensure optimal AcrAB-TolC function within rapid changing environments commonly faced during bacterial infection and colonization.
Project description:TRPM7 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7) is a chanzyme with channel and kinase domains essential for embryo development. Using gamete-specific Trpm7-null lines, we report that TRPM7-mediated Mg2+ influx is indispensable for reaching the blastocyst stage. TRPM7 was expressed dynamically from gametes to blastocysts, displaying stage-specific and distinct localizations on the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus, and undergoes cleavage that produces C- terminal kinase fragments. TRPM7 underpinned Mg2+ homeostasis throughout this time, and excess Mg2+ but not Zn2+ or Ca2+ overcame the arrest of Trpm7-null embryos; expressing Trpm7 mRNA restored development, but mutant versions failed or were less effective. Transcriptomic analyses of embryos lacking Trpm7 revealed an abundance of oxidative stress-pathway genes, confirmed by mitochondrial dysfunction, and a reduction of transcription factor networks essential for proliferation; Mg2+ supplementation corrected these defects. Hence, TRPM7 underpins Mg2+ homeostasis in preimplantation embryos, prevents oxidative stress, and promotes gene expression patterns necessary for developmental progression and cell lineage specification.
Project description:MANUSCRIPT ABSTRACT: The most abundant cellular divalent cations, Mg2+ (mM) and Ca2+ (nM-µM), antagonistically regulate divergent metabolic pathways with several orders of magnitude affinity preference, but its physiological significance of this competition remains largely unknown. In mice consuming a Western diet, genetic ablation of the mitochondrial Mg2+ channel Mrs2 prevents weight gain, enhances mitochondrial activity, decreases fat accumulation in the liver, and causes prominent browning of white adipose. Mrs2 deficiency further restrains citrate efflux from the mitochondria, making it unavailable to support de novo lipogenesis. As citrate is an endogenous Mg2+ chelator, this may represent an adaptive response to a perceived deficit of the cation. Transcriptional profiling of liver and white adipose reveals higher expression of genes involved in glycolysis, b-oxidation, thermogenesis, and HIF-1a-targets, in Mrs2-/- mice that are further enhanced under Western diet-associated metabolic stress. Thus, lowering mMg2+ is sufficient to promote metabolism and dampens diet induced obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Project description:Comparative transcriptomic analysis of HUVECs cultured on hydroxyapatite doping with Mg2+ (HA/Mg) versus Trio-Active bone scaffold (TABS)
Project description:Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Raw264.7 cells cultured on hydroxyapatite doping with Mg2+ (HA/Mg) versus Trio-Active bone scaffold (TABS)
Project description:Comparative transcriptomic analysis of MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on hydroxyapatite doping with Mg2+ (HA/Mg) versus Trio-Active bone scaffold (TABS)