Biochemical controls: controlling cardiac functions (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, March 28, 2024, 23:34 (238 days ago) @ David Turell

Many layers of enzymes:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-magnesium-cellular-plays-vital-role.html

"Magnesium is a mineral critical to a wide range of biological functions, and a new study takes aim at how it's transported to address cardiac dysfunction and other diseases, opening new possibilities for treatment.

The study led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), and published in the journal Molecular Cell, charts a new course in explaining how a novel protein called ERMA—a long-time mystery—functions as a precision-engineered pump in guiding magnesium.

"The investigation reveals how disruptions in ERMA's function can lead to significant disturbances in how heart cells manage calcium, crucial for the rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle. These imbalances can lead to cardiac dysfunctions, particularly affecting the heart's relaxation phase and its ability to efficiently refill with blood.

***

"ERMA is an acronym for ER Mg2+ ATPase, with ER referring to the endoplasmic reticulum, or a network of membranes inside a cell through which proteins and other molecules move. It serves many roles in the cell including calcium storage, protein synthesis and lipid metabolism, and the new discovery reveals a magnesium reservoir.

"Mg2+ represents magnesium ions and ATPase is an enzyme that converts stored chemical energies into mechanical actions within the cell.

"Muniswamy said the new study sheds light on longstanding mysteries surrounding cellular magnesium transport, setting the stage for groundbreaking inquiries into implications for a wide range of diseases, with a particular focus on cardiac health.

"Building on prior research that connected ERMA mutations to neurodevelopmental delays and congenital heart defects, the study explains ERMA's vital role in cellular biology, delving into its critical function in transporting magnesium into the endoplasmic reticulum, unveiling its indispensable role in cellular physiology and organ function.

"The process of decoding cellular magnesium transport was not without its hurdles, he said, given the mineral's ubiquitous involvement in more than 300 enzymatic reactions and its essential role in processes like DNA synthesis and energy metabolism." (my bold)

Comment: Another amazingly complex enzymatic controls system. Not by chance.