Magnesium structural stability

The use of alkali and alkaline earth group metal ions, especially those of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, for maintenance of electrolyte balance and for signaling and promotion of enzyme activity and protein function are not discussed in this text. Many of these ions, used for signaling purposes in the exciting area of neuroscience, are of great interest. In ribozymes, RNAs with catalytic activity, solvated magnesium ions stabilize complex secondary and tertiary molecular structure. Telomeres, sequences of DNA at the ends of chromosomes that are implicated in cell death or immortalization, require potassium ions for structural stabilization. 

R. H., Draper, D. E. The RNA-binding domain of ribosomal protein Lll recognizes an rRNA tertiary structure stabilized by both fhiostrepton and magnesium ion. Nucleic Adds Res 2000, 28, 1778—... 

Magnesium Enzyme activator—DNA structure stabilization—Ribozymes... 

The reaction uses a catalyst, typically an iron catalyst. Magnetite ( 6304) is used with other oxides such as alumina, calcium oxide, potassium oxide, magnesium oxide and silica. The magnetite is reduced in the process to the active iron catalyst [23]. Alumina acts as a structural stabilizer and gives improved surface area in the catalyst. Particle size must be balanced. Smaller particles are more effective catalysts but very small particles can cause pressure drops through the reactor. Certain substances may interfere with the catalyst. These are called poisons. In general, a catalyst that is resistant to poisons is desirable, but there must still be efforts to exclude poisons from the reactor feed. 

To improve its structural properties, aluminum is mixed with various metals such as copper, silicon, magnesium, manganese, and zinc to form alloys of varying properties and uses, some of which are shown in Table 14.3. Aluminum evidently forms zones of structural stability with these other metals that harden the alloy in a process somewhat like the formation of steel from iron. 

Magnesium has its role intimately intertwined with phosphate in many phosphoryl transfer reactions, as Mg-ATP in muscle contraction, in the stabilization of nucleic acid structures as well as in the catalytic activity of ribozymes (catalytic RNA molecules). It also serves as a structural component of enzymes, and is found as the metal centre in chlorophylls, which absorbs light energy in photosynthesis. 

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