Magnesium in enzymes

The function of magnesium in enzyme activity may either be to form a complex with the substrate, as in the magnesium-ATP complex formed in creatine kinase and phosphofhictokinase, or to bind to the enzyme and either produce an allosteric activation or play a direct role in catalysis. If an enzyme is known to utilize a nucleotide as one of its substrates, it can be assumed that magnesium is also required for catalysis. The magnesium ion possibly acts as an electrostatic shield. The enzyme pyravate kinase, described earlier, and shown in Figure 1, requires both magnesium and potassium ions for maximal activity. 

Role of Magnesium in Enzyme Systems Frank W. Heaton... 

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