Magnesium permeation through mechanosensitive channels: single-current measurements.

Compelling evidence shows that intracellular free magnesium [Mg(2+)](i) may be a critical regulator of cell activity in eukaryotes. However, membrane transport mechanisms mediating Mg(2+) influx in mammalian cells are poorly understood. Here, we show that mechanosensitive (MS) cationic channels activated by stretch are permeable for Mg(2+) ions at different extracellular concentrations including physiological ones.