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Comment
. 2014 Nov;196(22):3817-9.
doi: 10.1128/JB.02297-14. Epub 2014 Sep 15.

Mg2+, K+, and the ribosome

Knud H Nierhaus  1
Affiliations
Comment

Mg2+, K+, and the ribosome

Knud H Nierhaus. J Bacteriol. 2014 Nov.

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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