title: Is competition between Li+ and Mg2+ the underlying theme in the proposed mechanisms for the pharmacological action of lithium salts in bipolar disorder?
abstract: Lithium salts have been in use for the treatment of bipolar disorder for more than 50 years, but their pharmacological mode of action remains a matter of conjecture. Li(+) and Mg(2+) share many physicochemical properties. Not surprisingly, many reported cellular targets for Li(+) action involve Mg(2+)-activated enzymes, which are inhibited by Li(+). In this Account, we describe results from our and other laboratories that suggest that a competition mechanism between Li(+) and Mg(2+) ions for Mg(2+)-binding sites in cellular components is the underlying theme in putative mechanisms of Li(+) action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60626, USA. dfreita@luc.edu
authors.forename: Duarte
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota de Freitas
authors.forename: M Margarida C A
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Carlos F G C
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Geraldes
mesh_terms: D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D008094:Lithium; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D008274:Magnesium