The Involvement of Mg(2+) in Regulation of Cellular and Mitochondrial Functions

Mg(2+) is an essential mineral with pleotropic impacts on cellular physiology and functions. It acts as a cofactor of several important enzymes, as a regulator of ion channels such as voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels and K(+) channels and on Ca(2+)-binding proteins. In general, Mg(2+) is considered as the main intracellular antagonist of Ca(2+), which is an essential secondary messenger initiating or regulating a great number of cellular functions. This review examines the effects of Mg(2+) on mitochondrial functions with a particular focus on energy metabolism, mitochondrial Ca(2+) handling, and apoptosis.