Insight into renal Mg2+ transporters

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to describe the recent findings concerning novel Mg transporters as putative interesting players in renal transepithelial Mg transport. RECENT FINDINGS: So far, the best characterized Mg transport proteins are found in prokaryotes and yeast cells. In recent years, phylogenetic analysis and differential gene expression studies have led to the identification of numerous genes associated with Mg transport in eukaryotes. In addition to the well known transient receptor potential channel melastatin (TRPM), members 6 and 7, and the mitochondrial transporter Mrs2, additional Mg-transporting protein families can be acknowledged including the magnesium (Mag) transporters, the solute carrier (SLC) family 41 members, ancient conserved domain proteins (ACDP), nonimprinted in Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome (NIPA) proteins, membrane Mg transporters (MMgT) and huntingtin-interacting protein 14 (HIP14). SUMMARY: The identification of several mammalian proteins involved in Mg transport highlights the physiological importance of this cation and its tight regulation in numerous tissues. Further investigation of these transporters might represent a key tool to complement our current knowledge about renal Mg handling.