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Updated: May 28, 2026

Essential Metal Uptake in Gram-negative Bacteria: X-ray Fluorescence, Radioisotopes, and Cell Fractionation
10:34

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Published on: February 1, 2018

Magnesium Transporters as Crucial Regulators of Bacterial Survival and Pathogenicity

Seungjun Hur1, Youngki Yoo2, Jeong Min Chung1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon-si 14662, Republic of Korea.

Microorganisms
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Bacteria need magnesium (Mg2+) to survive. This review details bacterial magnesium transport systems, crucial for pathogen survival during infection and potential antimicrobial targets.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Magnesium (Mg2+) is vital for bacterial functions like ATP-dependent reactions and nucleic acid metabolism.
  • Bacteria require specialized transport systems to regulate intracellular Mg2+ homeostasis due to membrane impermeability.
  • Host nutritional immunity during infection limits Mg2+ availability, impacting bacterial survival and virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review major bacterial magnesium transport systems.
  • To highlight their roles in bacterial survival and pathogenicity, focusing on *Salmonella* and ESKAPE pathogens.
  • To explore potential therapeutic targets for antimicrobial development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of bacterial magnesium transport systems.
  • Focus on PhoPQ-regulated systems (MgtA, MgtB, MgtC) and their mechanisms.
  • Discussion of conserved channels (CorA) and selective channels (MgtE).

Main Results:

  • The PhoPQ-Mgt system regulates Mg2+ uptake in response to host signals.
  • MgtA and MgtB are high-affinity Mg2+ ATPases; MgtC inhibits ATP synthase for intramacrophage survival.
  • CorA and MgtE are key Mg2+ uptake channels with distinct regulatory mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial Mg2+ transport systems are essential for pathogen survival and virulence.
  • These systems, particularly in *Salmonella* and ESKAPE pathogens, represent promising targets for novel antimicrobial strategies.
  • Understanding Mg2+ homeostasis is critical for combating bacterial infections.
Keywords:
CorAESKAPE pathogensMgtAMgtBMgtCMgtEPhoPQmagnesium transporternutritional immunityvirulence

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