Does magnesium help with DNA?

Magnesium is an essential cofactor for the synthesis and salvage of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. It plays important roles in the structure of nucleic acids and affects their interaction with proteins and other ligands. Magnesium is required for DNA replication, transcription into RNA and translation into protein.

Why is magnesium needed for DNA polymerase?

A study reported that magnesium ions actively bind to DNA polymerase, altering its structure, and also create a magnesium-substrate scaffold to which the enzymes bind during structural conformations before and after chemical reactions for DNA repair and synthesis (Yang et al, 2004) .

Does magnesium bind to DNA?

The role of magnesium in DNA stabilization is concentration dependent. At high concentrations there is an accumulation of Mg binding, which induces conformational changes leading to Z-DNA, while at low concentration there is deficiency and destabilization of DNA.

Do cations stabilize DNA?

The presence of cations is one such factor that can have a stabilizing affect on the double helix form of DNA. The size, charge, and concentration of the cation in solution are key factors that effect the stabilization of DNA.

How does magnesium play a role in DNA stability?

At physiologically relevant concentrations, magnesium itself is not genotoxic, but is highly required to maintain genomic stability. Besides its stabilizing effect on DNA and chromatin structure, magnesium is an essential cofactor in almost all enzymatic systems involved in DNA processing.

Which is enzyme requires the presence of magnesium?

Over 300 enzymes require the presence of magnesium ions for their catalytic action, including all enzymes utilizing or synthesizing ATP, or those that use other nucleotides to synthesize DNA and RNA. [cite needed] In plants, magnesium is necessary for synthesis of chlorophyll and photosynthesis.

How does magnesium interact with other metal ions?

Carcinogenesis and cell growth are also magnesium-ion concentration dependent. Several reports point out that the interaction of magnesium in the presence of other metal ions showed that there is synergism with Li and Mn, but there is magnesium antagonism in DNA binding with the essential metal ions in the order: Zn>Mg>Ca.

What is the role of magnesium in chemotherapy?

In radiotherapy, as well as in chemotherapy, especially in treatment of cancers with cis-platinum, hypomagnesaemia is observed. The site effects of chemotherapy that are due to hypomagnesaemia are decreased using Mg supplements. The role of magnesium in DNA stabilization is concentration dependent.